The United Nations has stated that it will not remove its peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, despite pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will remain in place near the border with Israel, where fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has escalated. The UN Security Council and member states supporting UNIFIL have backed this decision, even as Israel claims the peacekeeping force has failed to stabilize the region.
Tensions have risen along the Israel-Lebanon border, leading to mass displacement of civilians on both sides. Israel has intensified its offensive against Hezbollah, leading to clashes and injuries among UNIFIL soldiers. International criticism has been directed at Israel for targeting peacekeepers, with President Joe Biden urging Israel to stop attacking UN forces.
Netanyahu has accused UNIFIL of protecting Hezbollah fighters and has called for the peacekeepers to be removed from harm’s way. The relationship between Israel and the United Nations has deteriorated, with Netanyahu accusing the UN of being “anti-Semitic” and Israel banning the UN Secretary-General from entering the country.
Israel is considering its response to recent missile attacks from Iran, with Netanyahu reportedly planning a limited counterstrike aimed at military infrastructure. Biden has indicated he does not support an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites but acknowledges Israel’s right to respond to attacks. The situation remains tense, with fears that escalating conflict could lead to a wider regional war.
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