Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in Lebanon, killing two Lebanese soldiers and injuring three others. This incident occurred shortly after Israeli troops fired on the headquarters of United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, injuring two peacekeepers for the second time in two days. The clashes involving Lebanon’s official army and the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon have sparked concern as Israel continues its campaign against Hezbollah with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Rescue workers in central Beirut were searching for survivors after an Israeli airstrike leveled a building, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 people and injuring dozens. Since Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza, more than 2,229 Lebanese individuals, including Hezbollah fighters, civilians, and medical personnel, have been killed. The Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours alone have caused 60 deaths and 168 injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The Lebanese army reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a building near a military checkpoint in the southern Bint Jbeil province. This incident occurred despite the fact that the Lebanese army has largely refrained from engaging in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Both Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers are stationed in southern Lebanon to enforce a U.N. resolution that helped end the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, was targeted by Israeli forces, resulting in two peacekeepers being wounded. This attack came after Israeli tank fire struck the UNIFIL headquarters, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers and drawing international condemnation. The U.N. force has been forced to relocate some peacekeepers from frontline positions due to ongoing Israeli attacks.
In Beirut’s Burj Abi Haidar neighborhood, residents were left reeling from Israeli airstrikes that destroyed buildings and resulted in civilian casualties. One resident described how his family was injured in the blasts, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its rocket attacks on Israel, causing disruption and fear among the population.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued warnings to the Lebanese public, indicating that they will face destruction similar to Gaza unless action is taken against Hezbollah. The escalation of violence between Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon underscores the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to prevent further loss of life and devastation in the region.
