Israeli forces target UNIFIL posts amid rising Lebanon tensions

Israeli forces fired on three positions occupied by UNIFIL - the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon - in three separate incidents, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Reuters, citing a UN source, reported that on Wednesday, an Israeli tank fired on a watchtower near the UNIFIL headquarters in the city of Naqoura. Two soldiers fell from it and were slightly injured. Handguns were used in the other incidents, but no one was injured. All attacks occurred within a 24-hour period.

UNIFIL confirmed that its headquarters and nearby positions have been "repeatedly hit" recently, and Israeli soldiers deliberately fired at and destroyed surveillance cameras. It was added that two soldiers from the mission were injured as a result of the Israeli tank fire. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated that, in addition to the headquarters, the two attacked bases belong to Italian soldiers.

For several weeks now, Israel has been intensively bombing Lebanon and, for over a week, has been conducting a ground operation in the south of the country, emphasizing that its target is Hezbollah. This Iran-supported organization has been fighting Israel with varying intensity for decades.

A few days ago, the Israeli army asked the UN for the evacuation of more than 20 mission observation points, warning that it could not guarantee their safety. The UN refused. On Sunday, UNIFIL also expressed concern about the actions of Israeli forces in the immediate vicinity of its positions.

As reported by the newspaper "Jerusalem Post" on Thursday, a particularly sensitive point is position 6-52 near the town of Marun ar-Ras, manned by Irish soldiers. The point is located right at the so-called Blue Line, which marks the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Upon entering Lebanon, the Israeli army established a temporary post in the immediate vicinity of position 6-52. This was interpreted as an attempt to pressure the Irish to leave their position - commented the newspaper.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated there since 1978 under a Security Council resolution. The mission, which has been modified several times, aims to monitor the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border and support stability in the region. Currently, the mission consists of approximately 10,000 soldiers and 800 civilians.