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The Israeli military (IDF) says it is conducting a “thorough review” after being notified that two UN peacekeepers were “inadvertently hurt during IDF combat against Hezbollah” in southern Lebanon.
BBC | The UK government says it is “appalled” by reports that Israel has fired on UN bases in southern Lebanon.
On Thursday, two peacekeepers were wounded when an Israeli tank fired on UN facilities in the south.
Two more peacekeepers were injured in a separate explosion earlier – the UN tells the BBC it’s still investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, rescue workers are searching through rubble after two Israeli air strikes hit central Beirut on Thursday.
Lebanon’s health ministry says the attacks, which came with no warning, killed at least 22 people and injured 117 others. Israel has not yet commented.
Meanwhile, Israel said Hezbollah fired more than 190 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel yesterday.
The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) says an Israeli military bulldozer has “hit the perimeter” of a UN position, external near the “Blue Line” – the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel – in Labbouneh, south west Lebanon.
Unifil says “IDF tanks moved in the proximity of the UN position”.
Its peacekeepers remained at the location and a Unifil “quick reaction force was dispatched to assist and reinforce the position”, it adds.
It also confirms that Unifil’s Naqoura headquarters were affected by explosions for the second time in 48 hours – two peacekeepers were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower, it adds.
“One injured peacekeeper was taken to a hospital in Tyre, while the second is being treated in Naqoura.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has yet to publicly comment on Friday’s incidents.
The Israeli military (IDF) says it is conducting a “thorough review” after being notified that two UN peacekeepers were “inadvertently hurt during IDF combat against Hezbollah” in southern Lebanon.
The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) has said that its Naqoura headquarters were affected by explosions for the second time in 48 hours today.
Two peacekeepers were injured today after two explosions happened near an observation tower, it said, while yesterday, two Indonesian soldiers were injured falling from an observation tower after an Israeli tank fired towards it.
IDF spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani says, external its military is operating in southern Lebanon as part of an “ongoing conflict with Hezbollah whose terrorists and infrastructure are in close proximity to Unifil positions posing a significant risk to the safety of peacekeepers”.
He adds “the IDF takes every precaution to minimize harm to civilians and peacekeepers alike”.
Shoshani did not clarify which incident he was referring to, but the IDF confirmed yesterday it had fired at the UN’s Naqoura base after ordering personnel stationed there to remain in “protected places”.
The UK prime minister says he is “very concerned that we are on the brink of escalation in the Middle East”.
Earlier it was reported that Israeli forces had fired at facilities used by United Nations peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned that as “a violation of international humanitarian law”.
Asked if he agrees, Sir Keir Starmer says: “I think it’s really important that the message is de-escalate. I’m very concerned about the situation in Lebanon, in Gaza and the escalation more generally in relation to the conflict. So de-escalation.
“We have to find a political and diplomatic route forward here and that is why I am working with allies and colleagues across the globe.”
He adds: “I am very concerned that we are on the brink of escalation in the Middle East, we need the opposite”.
