U.N. Chief Warns Israel Over Lebanon Peacekeeper Incident, Rising Tensions Persist

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, October 11, 2024, issued a stern warning to Israel following an incident where Israeli forces opened fire on UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, injuring two. Guterres emphasized that such actions are "intolerable" and must not be repeated, reflecting concerns over the safety of peacekeepers in the region.

India expressed its concern over the situation, noting that it is closely monitoring developments in Lebanon, especially after the attack on UN peacekeepers. The incident occurred in southern Lebanon, with the country’s foreign ministry confirming that Israeli forces targeted UN watchtowers and the main base of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at Ras Naqura. The ministry also reported that the Sri Lankan battalion stationed at the base was hit, leading to multiple injuries.

Israel, facing criticism on multiple fronts, dismissed the findings of a UN investigation that accused the country of intentionally targeting healthcare facilities in Gaza and mistreating Palestinian detainees. Israeli officials called the findings “outrageous,” denying any wrongdoing.

In a separate development, tensions between Israel and Iran escalated, with Iran declaring its readiness to defend its sovereignty. This statement followed Israeli threats in response to a missile attack earlier this month. Iran had fired about 200 missiles toward Israel on October 1, 2024, in retaliation for the deaths of key allies, including leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah.

The situation remains volatile, as Lebanese officials condemned what they described as a second Israeli attack in two days that wounded UN peacekeepers. The Lebanese government urged the international community to demand an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has also been involved in recent hostilities.

Amid these rising tensions, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an Israeli military base in Haifa, while Israel conducted airstrikes on Beirut, reportedly targeting a senior Hezbollah security official, killing 22 people in the deadliest strike on the Lebanese capital since the conflict began.

Countries like Belgium have already initiated evacuations, with over 100 Europeans, including citizens from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, being flown out of Lebanon on military planes as the conflict shows no signs of abating.

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