Recently, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli tanks forcefully entered one of its positions, leading to injuries among peacekeepers. This incident was deemed a “shocking violation” by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged UN peacekeepers to move away from areas of conflict, claiming their presence made them vulnerable to Hezbollah.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated, resulting in near-daily cross-border exchanges. Unifil, with nearly 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries, has been patrolling the region since 1978. Despite recent skirmishes, Unifil officials have resisted withdrawing their troops, citing the importance of the UN’s presence in the area.
Israel has faced criticism from allies for its actions, with accusations of endangering peacekeepers. Netanyahu argued that Unifil’s failure to curb Hezbollah’s influence justified Israel’s actions. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nijab Mikati condemned Netanyahu’s stance, calling for international intervention to stop Israeli aggression. The situation remains tense as both sides stand firm in their positions.
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