Widespread criticism of Israel on as UN troops caught in crossfire

Fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border continued on Friday, with UN peacekeepers injured in explosions, leading to widespread international criticism of Israel, reported Xinhua.

At the same time, Israeli forces and Hezbollah kept exchanging fire across the border.

Two UN peacekeepers were injured in explosions near a watchtower in the Lebanese border town of Nakura, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported. The incident occurred when an Israeli vehicle struck the perimeter of a UN position near the Blue Line in Labbouneh, causing several walls to collapse.

UNIFIL condemned the attack as "a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701," stating that such incidents place UN peacekeepers in "extremely grave danger." This was the second attack on UNIFIL facilities in 48 hours, following an incident on Thursday where two peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower.

Lebanon's foreign ministry denounced what it called the "systematic and deliberate" targeting of UNIFIL by the Israeli army. Several countries, including France, Spain, and Canada, also condemned Israel's attacks on UNIFIL sites.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged firing at a threat near a UN peacekeeping mission position in southern Lebanon, stating that an initial examination confirmed a "hit" was responsible for wounding two people. The IDF claimed that "Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure are adjacent to UNIFIL positions, posing a significant risk to the security of UN peacekeepers."

Also on Friday, Israeli warplanes and drones conducted multiple raids on towns and open areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attacks, saying, "This ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon has claimed the lives of brave soldiers who were fulfilling their national duty to protect the land and defend the people."

As Israelis mark Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, the country remains on high alert. The IDF reported that more than 100 rockets and missiles were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, with approximately 80 projectiles fired within a four-minute span.

Israeli defense systems intercepted some of the incoming rockets, and the IDF responded with airstrikes against several Hezbollah rocket launchers.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a drone attack on an air defense command base in Kiryat Eliezer, Haifa, and targeting Israeli military gatherings in various locations with missile salvos.

Hezbollah's media officer, Mohammad Afif, claimed on Friday that the group's military wing, the Islamic Resistance, remains strong and prepared to defend Lebanon.

"The resistance is holding firm on the southern front, managing its rocket and missile fire based on its assessment of the battlefield. Our strategic stockpile is secure," Afif said during a press conference, providing an update on recent developments.

In the West Bank, the IDF's Central Command announced plans to reinforce its presence with additional combat platoons. These troops will focus on defending settlements and the security barrier while preparing for various scenarios in the region.

Since early October, the Israeli military has conducted targeted ground operations against Hezbollah positions near the Lebanese border, while intensifying airstrikes and artillery bombardments, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border had been simmering since Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched missiles and rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza, which triggered daily retaliatory airstrikes and shelling from Israel.

The situation sharply deteriorated on Sept. 23, when the Israeli air force launched far more extensive and powerful strikes on Lebanese targets, resulting in hundreds of casualties and the displacement of over 1 million people.