Third UN peacekeeper wounded as IDF escalates attacks in Lebanon's Ramiya village

Israel intensifies invasion in Lebanon issuing new evacuation orders for residents in 23 southern Lebanese villages

Hezbollah announced on Sunday that its forces were engaged in fighting against Israeli troops attempting to attack the village of Ramiya in southern Lebanon while a third UN peacekeeper was reportedly wounded, highlighting the escalating regional violence.

Israel has intensified its military invasion in Lebanon, issuing new evacuation orders for residents in 23 southern Lebanese villages as its conflict with Hezbollah escalates.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered residents to move north of the Awali River claiming it is due to increased Hezbollah activities, accusing the group of using civilian areas to store weapons and launch attacks.

Hezbollah has denied these accusations.

The IDF invasion has heightened fears for the safety of UN personnel, prompting urgent calls for their evacuation.

The conflict has seen significant escalation in recent weeks with Israeli ground invasions targeting multiple locations in southern Lebanon, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in over 2,100 deaths and displacing more than 1.2 million people, according to the Lebanese government.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that 15 people were killed and 37 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday alone.

One of the attacks targeted the town of Deir Billa in northern Lebanon, a location that had not been previously struck.

In response to Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket fire, with nearly 320 projectiles fired at northern Israel on Saturday, Israel has declared some northern towns off-limits to the public.

The IDF claims that its recent invasions have killed around 50 Hezbollah fighters and destroyed numerous weapons storage sites.

The conflict has also resulted in casualties among UN peacekeepers.

On Friday, two United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers were wounded by Israeli strikes near their watchtower in Naqoura, while another peacekeeper was wounded by gunfire in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

This brings the total number of wounded UN peacekeepers to three, drawing international condemnation.

France, Italy, and Spain have condemned the attacks on UNIFIL bases as “unjustifiable,” with US President Joe Biden also urging Israel to ensure the safety of peacekeepers.

This marks a deadly turning point in the ongoing conflict, with UN peacekeepers increasingly caught in the crossfire as tensions flare.

UNIFIL described the incidents as a “serious development” and called for the protection of its personnel and property.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, expressed concern over Israel’s attacks on UN positions and urged a pivot towards diplomatic solutions.

Despite these calls, Israel has rejected ceasefire proposals in both Lebanon and Gaza.

The ongoing conflict has also affected civilian infrastructure, with five hospitals in Lebanon sustaining damage from Israeli airstrikes in Baalbek and the Bekaa Valley, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Additionally, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been forced to suspend activities in certain areas of Beirut due to the heavy bombardment.

The situation remains tense as both Israel and Hezbollah continue to engage in fierce battles, with Israel vowing to maintain its military invasions to secure the northern regions and ensure the safe return of evacuated residents.

The Middle East is on high alert, with international leaders pushing for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.