Israel Eliminates Hezbollah Commander After Escalating Tensions and UN Peacekeeper Strikes
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) proudly declared they had neutralized Araeb el Shoga, a Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces Anti-tank Missile Unit commander from southern Lebanon. The IDF claimed that El Araeb planned many anti-tank missile attacks on northern Israel. This tactical strike has come at the time when the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group is escalating.
New Airstrikes Kill 5 in Central Beirut
At a more dangerous level, the Israeli forces targeted central Beirut in airstrikes on Thursday, which killed at least 22 people and left several injured according to the Lebanon Health Ministry. The coordinated attack dealt with two civil buildings; one of which was totally flattened and the other seriously damaged being an eight-storied structure. Hezbollah’s sources reported that the attacks could be the failed attempts to kill Wafiq Safa, the Hezbollah security chief.
UN Peacekeepers Under Fire
The UNIFIL, the United Nations force in Lebanon complained about receiving direct fire from the side of Israeli forces in their headquarters and positions. An even more worrying incident was reported with an Israeli tank targeting directly an observation tower at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, Lebanon. Two wounded Indonesian soldiers were also hospitalised in the attack, which was confirmed by the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
International Backlash and Accusations of War Crimes
Such an attack on UN peacekeepers has been condemned by the international community. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto went as far as claiming that this may well have been a war crime on the part of Israel to target the UNIFIL base. The United States, usually a strong supporter of Israel, condemned the attacks on UN peacekeeping posts in a statement issued by a White House National Security Council Official.
Israeli Response and Acknowledgment
The Israeli military has admitted firing on the UN base in southern Lebanon, saying that they told peacekeepers there to “stay in their fortified areas.” This admission comes as the Israeli-Hezbollah war continues to escalate and the possibility of regional drawn appears more and more real.
