Beirut, Lebanon – 13 October 2024: The Israeli army warned on Saturday that it will hit ambulances in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, is using these ambulances to bring fighters and their weapons across the country.
On the same day, a fifth UNIFIL peacekeeper was also reported injured in another Israeli strike that Israel later admitted was brought about by its forces’ firing at what the latter termed as a “threat” near a UN peacekeeping position. The admission of responsibility by the Israeli military for this “hit” only serves to heighten diplomatic tensions as international condemnation of attacks on UN personnel pours in.
UNIFIL Stands Firm Amid Israeli Pressures:
The spokesperson for UNIFIL, Andrea Tenenti, said multiple attacks on the peacekeepers, including gunfire that injured one close to the headquarters in Naqura, won’t make the mission withdraw its observation posts along the Blue Line-the border area separating Lebanon from Israel. “It is essential that the UN flag continues to fly in this region,” Tenenti said while reaffirming UNIFIL’s commitment toward maintaining a monitoring role despite rising hostilities.
According to reports, the Israeli military asked the United Nations peacekeeping force to withdraw as close as five kilometers from the Blue Line, which UNIFIL refused. The mission, which has been in place since the 2006 Lebanon war under the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1701, puts emphasis on the fact that only diplomatic solutions can prevent a regional conflict of catastrophic proportions.
Lebanon Wrecked by Israeli Strikes:
Since the renewed conflict started on September 23, Israeli strikes have killed over 1,200 in Lebanon and displaced more than a million, according to Lebanese authorities. The IDF has repeatedly warned civilians in southern Lebanon not to return to their homes, declaring that anyone traveling south risks death.
International Response and Condemnation:
Michael Higgins, President of Ireland, whose soldiers are deployed in UNIFIL, condemned Israel’s insistence on a complete withdrawal of UN peacekeepers. “The Israeli demand that UNIFIL abandon its mandate and quit the area is outrageous,” Higgins said. He called for UNIFIL to remain in southern Lebanon to avert further tensions.
The same sentiments were echoed by Southern European leaders during a summit, all of them unanimously presenting their condemnation on the various attacks launched on UN peacekeepers as violating the conditions in Resolution 1701 and for its immediate halt.
Iran Condemns Israeli Aggression:
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Beirut and, speaking to the editorial boards of Lebanese newspapers, condemned the airstrikes carried out by Israel on densely populated areas, as violence continues. He condemned the Basta neighborhood bombing that killed at least 22 people and targeted Hezbollah’s security chief, Wafiq Safa. Ghalibaf slammed international bodies such as the UN Security Council, saying, “They have the power to stop Israel, but their silence is enabling these crimes.”
Ghalibaf also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who underlined Lebanon’s desire to conclude the war and de-escalate the war that is presently in play.
The hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have reached war throttle speed, and the risk of full-scale war in the region continues to rise. The international community has appealed for restraint, calling for diplomatic solutions to prevent further loss of civilian life and stabilize the region.
