The Israeli Military targeted United Peacekeepers and their facilities with several airstrikes in Central Beirut, Lebanon on Thursday evening. The airstrikes killed at least 18 people and over 90 were left injured, the health ministry reported.
The first airstrike hit an eight-story building block in Ras Al Naba’a. The locals described that the explosions continued within the building, resulting in large emergency teams rushing to the scene.
Meanwhile, the second airstrike hit the Burj Abi Haider, resulting in a complete building collapse, surrounded by flames.
According to the UN peacekeepers force, two of its peacekeepers were also attacked after an Israeli tank was shot at a watchtower in Southern Lebanon both on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital,” the group said. The group’s headquarters have been repeatedly attacked, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said.
They also accused Israel of targeting the agency’s other position, and called the attack, “a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
Meanwhile, these attacks came after the Israeli forces fired on the entrance to a bunker sheltering peacekeeping force in Naquora near the UNIFIL base on Thursday morning.
Canada Takes Lebanon’s Stand
Canada, who has been the largest supporter of Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon, called the attack alarming and unacceptable.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry noted on its official X handle that “Canada calls for the protection of peacekeepers and humanitarian workers and for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law. “
This to be noted that the Israeli military has expanded its attacks against Southern Lebanon in the past few days. Israel claims that these actions were necessary to allow the return of at least 60,000 residents who were displaced from their homes last year when Hezbollah attacked several firing rockets against Israel a while ago.
About UNIFIL
The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon is a group created by the UN Secretary Council in 1978. It was created to prevent Israeli troops from entering the Lebanese military via the Southern Border, known as the Blue Line, to the Litani River in the north.
There are about 10,000 peacekeepers in the group, representing 50 different nations and 800 civilian employees. Germany and the United Kingdom are the two nations that supply weapons to Israel and contribute to peacekeeper missions.
Despite this, the Israeli peacekeepers have threatened to attack the UNIFIL peacekeepers. They have also recently told the Irish peacekeepers to evacuate.
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