UN peacekeepers caught in crossfire as Israel-Hezbollah conflict persists

Israeli forces continue their military operations in Lebanon and Gaza amid a firestorm of international criticism over its soldiers firing on UN peacekeepers.

Two UN peacekeepers were injured in explosions near a watchtower in the Lebanese border town of Nakura, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported. The incident occurred when an Israeli vehicle struck the perimeter of a UN position near the Blue Line in Labbouneh, causing several walls to collapse.

Du Jia, commander of the 22nd batch of Chinese peacekeeping forces to Lebanon, told the China Media Group (CMG) that there are currently frequent exchanges of fire between Lebanon and Israel, which have damaged many UNIFIL battalions and injured some peacekeepers from other countries. He added that Chinese peacekeeping forces in Lebanon are still safe and doing their utmost to maintain peace and stability there.

UNIFIL condemned the attack as "a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701," stating that such incidents place UN peacekeepers in "extremely grave danger." This was the second attack on UNIFIL facilities in 48 hours, following an incident on Thursday in which two peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower.

UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the firing as "intolerable" and "a violation of international humanitarian law," while the British government said it was "appalled" by reports of the wounded.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he was "absolutely" asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers, while the French, Spanish and Italian leaders issued a joint statement expressing "outrage."

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry denounced what it called the "systematic and deliberate" targeting of UNIFIL by the Israeli army.

Facing a chorus of condemnations, the Israeli military pledged to carry out a "thorough review."

Also on Friday, Israeli warplanes and drones conducted multiple raids on towns and open areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attacks, saying, "This ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon has claimed the lives of brave soldiers who were fulfilling their national duty to protect the land and defend the people."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its large-scale operation in Jabalia and the surrounding area, maintaining a tight siege for the sixth consecutive day. According to Gaza-based health authorities, the Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has now reached 42,126, as reported on Friday.

However, aid entering Gaza is at its lowest level in months, and no one in Gaza has received food parcels this month due to constrained access to aid supplies, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said on Friday.

Haq added that the World Food Programme reports critical aid lifelines into northern Gaza have been cut off.

"The situation is at breaking point as well in the south of Gaza," the spokesperson warned. There are no food distributions, and bakeries are struggling to secure wheat flour, which puts them at risk of shutting down any day.

The Nicaraguan government announced on Friday the rupture of diplomatic relations with the government of Israel in response to what the Nicaraguan government called "the brutal genocide that the fascist and war criminal government of Israel continues to commit against the Palestinian people."

Diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza have so far failed, but Mikati said his government would ask the UN Security Council to issue a new resolution calling for a "full and immediate ceasefire."

U.S. special envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein said the United States was working "non-stop" towards a ceasefire. Leaders from nine European countries around the Mediterranean Sea on Friday also called for an end to fighting in Lebanon, as well as Gaza.

(With input from agencies)