UN peacekeeping forces worried about tensions in Lebanon
UN peacekeepers worry as conflict intensifies at the Lebanese-Israeli border, according to Reuters via Arab News on September 20th.
Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti released an interview to Reuters, stating that the UNIFIL is “concerned at the increased escalation across the Blue Line and urge all actors to immediately de-escalate,” being the Blue Line the border between Lebanon and Israel.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had already expressed his concerns regarding the escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and IDF on September 19th.
“We still don’t want to see an escalation of any kind. We don’t believe that the way to solve where we’re at in this crisis is by additional military operations at all,” had commented Kirby, We still believe that the best way to prevent escalation, to prevent another front from opening up in Lebanon, is through diplomacy”.
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The increment of violence followed an Israeli attack targeting the Iran-backed militia that killed 37 people and critically injured many more.
During the attack, hundreds of pagers employed by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon, even killing the 10-year-old daughter of one of the members.
Vowing to punish Israel, the group fired rockets at its opponent’s artillery positions on September 18th.
Arab News
