US President Biden urges Israel to cease attacks on UN peacekeepers amid conflict with Hezbollah

US President Joe Biden has urged Israel to immediately stop firing at United Nations peacekeepers during the ongoing conflict with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Biden described his request as "absolutely, positively" necessary, following two incidents in Lebanon that left four UN soldiers injured.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that its troops were responsible for an incident involving two Sri Lankan soldiers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

According to the IDF, its soldiers detected a threat near the UNIFIL base in Naqoura, prompting them to open fire. The IDF stated that the incident would undergo investigation "at the highest levels" to determine the circumstances and prevent similar occurrences.

The previous day, on Thursday, two Indonesian UNIFIL soldiers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at an observation tower, causing the soldiers to fall.

UN peacekeeping officials, including Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed concerns that some of the firing on UN positions appeared to be direct, though they did not specify the responsible party.

The situation has drawn international criticism, with the leaders of France, Italy, and Spain issuing a joint statement condemning Israel’s actions as "unjustifiable" and demanding an immediate cessation.

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry also condemned the IDF attack, emphasising the need for accountability.

Israel's conflict with Hezbollah has escalated significantly in recent weeks, following an Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

The invasion was said by Israel to be prompted by ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah, which began in October of the previous year in retaliation to the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. The cross-border exchanges have led to substantial casualties and destruction on both sides.

The IDF reported that approximately 100 rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel within 30 minutes on Friday, with two unmanned aerial vehicles also crossing the border.

One of the UAVs was intercepted, according to Israeli sources. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that three individuals, including a two-year-old girl, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Sidon. The Lebanese army reported that two of its soldiers were killed when Israeli forces targeted a post in Kafra.

The humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon has worsened as a result of the intensified conflict.

In Beirut, rescue workers have been working to recover bodies and aid survivors following two Israeli airstrikes that struck the city on Thursday. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that these strikes resulted in 22 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries, criticising Israel for carrying out the attacks without warning.

Amidst this, the UNIFIL mission continues its operations in Lebanon, with about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries patrolling the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line—the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel. Despite Israeli calls for UNIFIL forces to move 5 kilometres northward to avoid danger, Jean-Pierre Lacroix indicated that peacekeepers would maintain their positions.

In the Gaza Strip, a separate conflict persists between Israeli forces and Hamas.

He also expressed alarm over the escalating violence in Lebanon.

“What we are witnessing in Lebanon is a massive operation which strikes, heavy bombardments, obviously also with bombardments from the Hezbollah side, but that are causing dramatic number of civilians being killed,” he said.

Reports indicate that more than 2,000 people have been killed, and over one million have been displaced.

“We see an enormous tragedy in Lebanon, and we must do everything to avoid an all-out war In Lebanon,” Mr. Guterres added.

On Friday, at least 30 people were reported killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Jabalia town and refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency. The IDF have not commented on these strikes.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that "thousands are trapped" in the Jabalia refugee camp, including some of its staff members.

MSF highlighted that Israeli forces issued evacuation orders on 7 October but continued attacks simultaneously, complicating the evacuation efforts. The al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia is facing a critical shortage of fuel, food, and medical supplies, warned Dr Mohammed Salha, its acting director.

Speaking at a press stakeout during the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, the capital of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Secretary-General António Guterres “condemned the fact that there was shooting against the UN premises, wounding two peacekeepers, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.”

“Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, and what has happened is obviously condemnable.”

Israel has argued that its intensified operations in northern Gaza are aimed at neutralising Hamas fighters regrouping in the area. However, these operations have resulted in heavy casualties and further strained humanitarian conditions in the densely populated region.

Lebanon has experienced significant loss of life in the escalating hostilities with Israel, with over 2,000 people reported dead and many more displaced. Israeli officials have also reported casualties, including two civilians and a Thai national killed by Hezbollah rocket fire in northern Israel.

Hezbollah has stated that it would cease its attacks if a truce is reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.