Israeli Airstrikes Kill 13 in Southern Lebanon Shells Land Near Nepali UN Peacekeeping Base
Beirut Lebanon
At least 13 people have been killed following Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Friday night according to Lebanese officials The attacks also involved shelling near a United Nations peacekeeping base hosting a Nepali battalion raising concerns about the safety of international personnel in the region
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said the strikes targeted multiple locations across the south including residential areas and an emergency response facility The ministry’s Emergency Operations Center reported that one of the airstrikes directly hit a joint emergency response point run by the Islamic Health Authority and the Islamic Resale Scouts Two rescue workers were killed in the attack and five others were injured
In the city of Nabataea Israeli warplanes struck a house in the Al Rabat neighborhood killing six people including a young girl Lebanon’s state run National News Agency said The strike caused significant destruction to the building and nearby structures
Another airstrike in the southern border town of Binti Jubail killed three people Local media reported that the area experienced extensive damage following the attack which occurred close to the Israeli Lebanese border
In the coastal city of Ghaziyeh a separate airstrike hit a building killing two children Health officials said rescue teams were working through the night to assess the damage and assist those affected
Lebanese media also reported that Israeli artillery shells landed inside the compound of the Nepali battalion serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL in the border village of Mays al Jabaal
Nepal’s honorary consulate in Beirut strongly condemned the incident In a statement it confirmed that none of the Nepali peacekeepers stationed at the base were injured However it warned that targeting areas close to United Nations peacekeeping positions represents a serious breach of international law and threatens the safety of UN personnel deployed in the region
The Nepali battalion is part of the UNIFIL mission which has been operating in southern Lebanon since 1978 with the mandate of monitoring hostilities and maintaining stability along the Israel Lebanon border
Meanwhile the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it had carried out several retaliatory attacks against Israeli positions The group said it launched rockets at Israeli troops and military vehicles gathered in Wadi Hunan opposite the Lebanese border village of Markab
Hezbollah also said it targeted the Blat military site in southern Lebanon which it described as a newly established Israeli position In addition the group claimed it had struck the Give drone control base located east of the Israeli city of Safed
The group further reported launching rockets for the third time in a single day at Israeli military gatherings in the settlement of Mentula
Later on Friday night Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut an area widely regarded as a stronghold of Hezbollah The strikes are seen as part of a broader escalation in cross border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah which have intensified in recent weeks
Residents in parts of Beirut also reported Israeli drones flying overhead and dropping leaflets urging civilians to oppose Hezbollah
The continuing exchange of attacks has raised fears that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate further potentially destabilizing the wider region
