Israel faced international ire Friday over reports that it had opened fire at the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two staff members. While Israel defended itself, saying it had warned the staff members to move to safe spaces before opening fire, the UN, the US, the European Union and India called for greater restraint. Below are ten latest updates from the escalating situation in the Middle East:
1. Israel faces international ire over the firing incident at UNIFIL (UN Interim Force In Lebanon) headquarters in southern Lebanon, in which two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured. Apart from the UN, which condemned it as a “grave violation of international humanitarian law”, the US and the European Union expressed concern, with the US saying that Israel must be careful not to “threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security”. “We understand Israel is conducting targeted operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens,” the White House spokesperson said. “While they undertake these operations, it is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security.”
2. Israel, however, defended itself saying, that it communicated to the UNIFIL staff to “remain in protected spaces” and only then, its forces opened fire. “Hezbollah operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near @UNIFIL_ posts,” the IDF wrote in a post on X. “The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL. IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base. Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, after which the forces opened fire in the area.”
3. This comes on a day when Hezbollah launched nearly 25 rockets into Israel. The IDF said that while some of the rockets were intercepted, the others fell in open areas. “One other rocket was fired in a separate launch toward Kiryat Shmona, and fell in the area, the military adds,” the Times of Israel reported.
4. This is the second large missile strike by Hezbollah inside Israel in recent days. Earlier, the militant group fired 40 rockets at Haifa area. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange hostilities. The recent attacks have heightened concerns about the potential for a wider war. The region is on edge as these events unfold, with both sides preparing for possible further escalations.
5. IDF also eliminated a senior commander in the Hezbollah Radwan Forces’ Anti-tank Missile Unit in the Area of Meiss El Jabal in southern Lebanon on Friday. Araeb el Shoga “was responsible for numerous anti-tank missile attacks in northern Israel,” the IDF wrote on X.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggRmJu5dEhQ
5. Russian president Vladimir Putin, Iran's Pezeshkian met on the sidelines of regional summit in Turkmenistan to discuss the Middle East situation, according to an AFP report.
6. The Times of Israel, meanwhile, quoted sources to say that "no big resolutions" were made at Israel's Security Cabinet meeting on retaliation against Iran. “There is will from the Israelis to coordinate with the Americans” over their response to Iran’s missile attack, the source told TOI.
8. The IDF on Friday said it had moved its 205th Reserve Armored Brigade into southern Lebanon. The brigade has destroyed Hezbollah tunnels, prepared defensive positions, and other enemy infrastructure, the IDF stated, according to a Times of Israel report. “The brigade eliminated a number of terrorists and destroyed dozens of terrorist targets from the air, from the ground and with artillery,” The Times of Israel quoted the IDF as saying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THNXwib-sWk
9. On Wednesday, Hezbollah released a drone footage of Israeli military bases. The recon drone captured images of Israeli military bases, headquarters, and facilities in the Haifa-Carmel area of the country.
Israel's air defence was caught off guard as the drone was not captured by Israel's Iran Dome, David's Sling and Arrows. The footage was captured by 'Hoopoe Drone" of the Lebanon-based group.
The footage exposed the first lien of defence of Israel. Notably, it is important to note that Hafia-Carmel port is a crucial defence point for the Tel Aviv Metropolitan area. The footage is said to feature significant locations, like Kiryat Shmona industrial zone, the Haifa oil refinery, Kiryat Ata industrial area.
10. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had eliminated Hashem Safieddine, the projected new Hezbollah leader, during an airstrike in Beirut last week. Safieddine was supposed to take over from Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, who was killed in an explosion at Hezbollah Headquarters in Beirut. Earlier this month, Israel launched a “limited ground operation” into southern Lebanon after a series of attacks killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and most of his top commanders. The fighting is the worst since Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have reportedly been killed so far in Israeli strikes. Around 1.2 million (12 lakh) were driven from their homes.