Israeli Military Strikes UN Base in South Lebanon for the First Time after Ceasefire Agreement
Fresh take:
Tensions boil over as Israeli military targets UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon
In a heated turn of events, the Israeli military has aimed its deadly fire at the perimeter of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) peacekeeping positions, the mission confirmed on Wednesday. This is the first time such an incident has occurred since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah was established last November.
The attack struck UNIFIL's base in the village of Kfarchouba, located in southern Lebanon. As of now, there's no response from the Israeli army regarding this alarming event. UNIFIL stated that in recent days, they've witnessed belligerent behavior from the Israeli military towards their peacekeepers who were performing operational duties in compliance with Security Council Resolution 1701.
This resolution, originally adopted in 2006, was created to put an end to conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah. Tuesday's attack took place near the Blue Line, a UN-delineated boundary separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Crossing the Blue Line unauthorized, whether by land or air, is considered a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
In other allegations, UNIFIL pointed the finger at the Israeli military for targeting them with lasers while they carried out a patrol with the Lebanese army in the southern border town of Maroun al-Ras on Tuesday. UNIFIL's statement affirmed, "We strongly protest all such incidents and continue to remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property, and to respect the inviolability of UN assets and premises at all times."
On a separate note, Israel's military claimed responsibility for taking out a Hezbollah commander in a strike on southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Further escalating the volatile ceasefire, this marks the latest chapter in the ongoing power struggle between Israel and Hezbollah in the region.
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"UNIFIL protests all such incidents and we continue to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN assets and premises at all times," it added.
Though the truce officially ended hostilities, recurrent cross-border attacks persist, leading to widespread concern among the international community. Israel has regularly broken the truce, escalating tensions with air raids across southern Lebanon and in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah enjoys strong support. While rockets have been fired into Israel from Lebanese territory on two separate occasions, Hezbollah has denied being involved.
The revolving violence raises doubts about the sustainability of the ceasefire and underscores the complexity of the region's political landscape. The United States plays a significant role in overseeing and shaping the ceasefire's implementation, working closely with Israel, Lebanon, UNIFIL, and France in a five-party committee. The US also provides support for Israeli actions against Hezbollah, exerting pressure on Lebanon's government to disarm Hezbollah and other militias as a condition for ongoing stability and aid.
[1] "Hezbollah Alleges 3,100 Violations of Israel Ceasefire," Al Jazeera, December 18, 2024. [2] "US backs Israeli actions along Lebanon border," Associated Press, January 22, 2025. [3] "Israel targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024," Reuters, October 1, 2024. [4] "Lebanese army hesitant to confront Hezbollah north of the Litani River," Middle East Eye, March 25, 2025.
- The latest breaking news involves a conflict between Israel and UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, as the Israeli military targeted UNIFIL's peacekeeping positions, calling into question the sustainability of the ceasefire agreement and raising concerns within the international community.
- In politics, the United States plays a significant role in overseeing and shaping the implementation of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, working closely with Israel, Lebanon, UNIFIL, and France in a five-party committee, while also providing support for Israeli actions against Hezbollah.
- Amidst the ongoing power struggle between Israel and Hezbollah in the region, war-and-conflicts continue to dominate general news, with cross-border attacks persisting on both sides, threatening stability and highlighting the complexities of the Middle East's political landscape.
