**Clashes Escalate in Lebanon**
The United Nations peacekeeping force, Unifil, is facing growing attacks from Israel‘s military and Hezbollah. The situation has escalated since September 30 when Israel launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon to target Hezbollah.
Recently, one of the affected structures caught fire but was quickly put out by firefighters. Despite this, tensions remain high. Unifil has accused Israel of attacking its forces, as well as some cases involving Hezbollah and its affiliates. This comes after near-daily cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023.
Hezbollah operates in areas close to the Israeli border, which is why a UN presence was established there. However, Israel claims that Unifil has failed to prevent Hezbollah militants from doing so. As a result, Israel has asked Unifil forces to leave the area for their own safety.
Unifil has refused to withdraw and has repeatedly called on all parties to stop attacking its bases. This is considered a “flagrant violation” of international law. The situation remains tense, with no signs of de-escalation in sight.