Hezbollah declared it was engaged in combat with Israeli troops attempting to penetrate Ramya village, located in southern Lebanon. This clash comes on the heels of a third United Nations peacekeeper being injured amid the escalating conflict involving the Iran-supported Lebanese faction.
Israeli airstrikes have rattled the main base for peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, leading UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and various Western nations to vociferously denounce these aggressive actions.
The UNIFIL peacekeeping force characterized this situation as a “serious development,” stressing the imperative of safeguarding UN personnel and facilities.
In an urgent response, France summoned Israel’s ambassador and, alongside Italy and Spain, issued a joint statement condemning these attacks as “unjustifiable.”
On a national front, Russia expressed its “outrage” and has called on Israel to abstain from “hostile actions” targeting peacekeeping forces.
Hezbollah firmly rejects accusations of housing arms amidst civilian populations.
On the other side of the conflict, Israeli military assaults on Gaza took the lives of at least 29 Palestinians yesterday, according to medical reports, as Israeli forces pushed further into the Jabalia region. Humanitarian agencies state that thousands of residents find themselves trapped in this perilous territory.
In Jabalia, which is situated in the northern part of the enclave and houses the largest historical refugee camp, locals reported that both air and ground assaults from Israeli forces created an atmosphere of havoc.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hezbollah fired nearly 320 projectiles into Israel from Lebanon just yesterday, yet provided no additional details. Following this, the IDF designated several areas near towns in northern Israel as off-limits to the public.
In light of increased Hezbollah activity, Israel issued evacuation directives to inhabitants of 23 southern Lebanese villages, advising them to relocate northward, beyond the Awali River. This river flows from the western Bekaa Valley into the Mediterranean Sea.
The IDF argued that these evacuations are essential for the residents’ safety, claiming Hezbollah utilizes various sites to obstruct arms and to launch attacks on Israeli territory. However, Hezbollah staunchly denies such claims of hiding weapons amid civilians.
A rescuer searches for survivors in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Nabatiyeh, a city in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the military also emitted evacuation orders for two neighborhoods on the northern periphery of Gaza City, specifying it as a “treacherous combat zone.” In a counter-move, Gaza’s Hamas-controlled interior ministry implored residents not to evacuate.
This intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants ignited a year ago when the Iranian-backed faction commenced rocket fire at northern Israel in an effort to back Hamas, marking the onset of the Gaza war.
In recent weeks, Israel ramped up its military endeavors, executing bombings across southern Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. These strikes have claimed the lives of numerous Hezbollah leaders and deployed Israeli ground troops across the border. In retaliation, Hezbollah has intensified its rocket attacks deeper into Israeli territory.
Israel’s expansive military actions have displaced upwards of 1.2 million people, claims the Lebanese government, which also reported over 2,100 fatalities and 10,000 individuals injured over the past year of hostilities. This statistic does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, yet includes a sorrowful number of women and children.
The United States has called for a “diplomatic pathway” to address the ongoing conflict.
The Middle East remains on edge, anticipating further escalations as it awaits Israel’s response to an onslaught of Iranian missiles unleashed on October 1.
According to NBC News, US officials suspect that Israel has refined its targeted military responses to focus primarily on military and energy infrastructure.
There’s no indication that Israel is considering strikes on nuclear facilities or conduct assassinations, as per the report citing unnamed US officials. The final course of Israeli action has yet to be determined.
Both US and Israeli officials noted that Israel’s retaliation might occur during the ongoing Yom Kippur holiday.
The conflict’s genesis between Israel and Hezbollah militants occurred last year when the Iranian-backed outfit initiated rocket launches against northern Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas during the Gaza war.
In a troubling expansion of hostilities, a Syrian security source disclosed to Reuters that the US-led coalition in Syria targeted sites affiliated with Iran near the Deir el-Zor airport last Friday night.
Additionally, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq released a statement announcing it had struck a military position in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with drones as part of its commitment to support the Palestinian and Lebanese causes.
They emphasized an ongoing campaign to escalate attacks on Israeli interests.
In a recent series of communications, the Islamic Resistance declared its successful drone strikes against both the Golan Heights and the Israeli port of Eilat.
The UNIFIL mission, tasked with peacekeeping in Lebanon, reported that a third peacekeeper sustained injuries due to an Israeli strike when caught in crossfire on Friday. Fortunately, after surgery to remove the bullet, he is now in stable condition.
The UNIFIL statement indicated that its outpost in the southern Lebanese town of Ramyah suffered severe damage from explosions caused by nearby shelling. However, they refrained from specifying the party responsible for the attacks.
Two UN peacekeepers were wounded by an Israeli strike close to their watchtower at UNIFIL’s main base situated in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, just last Friday.
Comprising over 10,000 personnel, UNIFIL counts Italy, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India among its principal contributors.
In a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin voiced “serious concern” regarding reports that Israeli forces had targeted UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon recently. He urged Israel to ensure the safety of both UN personnel and the Lebanese military, according to a Pentagon statement.
Furthermore, Austin emphasized the importance of transitioning from military operations in Lebanon towards a diplomatic route “as soon as practical,” as conveyed in the official statement.
Despite international appeals, Israel has thus far dismissed calls from the United States and other allies for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
