News breaking into the wires involves rising violence between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. United States President Joe Biden has publicly intervened to urge Israel to halt its fire on UN peacekeepers following two incidents in the past 48 hours, where soldiers were injured from UN forces while Israeli forces operated close to UN bases. Two Sri Lankan UN peacekeepers were reportedly injured Friday when the IDF opened fire, reportedly due to a perceived threat. This happened a day after Israeli forces fired toward a UN observation tower, injuring two Indonesian soldiers.
The IDF has admitted that they are responsible for the Friday incident and promised a through probe. The IDF said that its forces had informed peacekeepers to remain in secure areas; this source of the perceived threat had located about 50 meters away from the UN post.
Leaders of France, Italy, and Spain condemned the actions with a call on Israel to end the attacks targeting the peacekeepers. Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has also condemned the attack on its soldiers. The head of UN peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said he is concerned at what seems to be a deliberate targeting of UN facilities. There have been attacks via direct fire on observation towers and damage to surveillance equipment.
On the ground, Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon continues with exchanges of missiles and rockets between Hezbollah and the IDF. Rocket fire from Hezbollah into northern Israel has killed Israeli civilians and foreign workers, and Israeli airstrikes have caused significant casualties on all sides in southern Lebanon, including civilians in Beirut and Sidon. According to reports by Lebanese authorities, over 2,000 are dead; displacement is widespread.
Israeli strikes have not saved Gaza, and Jabalia is worst hit as Israel moves onto the ground. Humane conditions are catastrophic; reports from Doctors Without Borders claim thousands of civilians, medical staff included, are confined as Israeli evacuation orders and bombardment continue to strangle them. Fuel shortages plague the Jabalia al-Awda hospital.
Both have accelerated regional instability, Lebanon suffering dire consequences to its civilians and its infrastructure. The UN appeals for restraint and protection of non-combatants while the diplomatic channels of de-escalation continue to be pursued.