Biden Urges Israel To Halt Fire On UN Peacekeepers Amid Conflict With Hezbollah

US President Joe Biden has called on Israel to stop firing on UN peacekeepers after two separate incidents within 48 hours left several injured. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted responsibility for the latest incident on Friday, where two Sri Lankan soldiers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) were wounded. The IDF stated that soldiers near the Naqoura base identified a threat and opened fire, promising an investigation at the “highest levels.”

This comes after an Israeli tank fired on an observation tower on Thursday, injuring two Indonesian Unifil soldiers. France, Italy, and Spain condemned Israel’s actions as unjustifiable, calling for an immediate cessation of attacks.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry strongly denounced the IDF’s actions, while the head of UN peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed concern, stating there were signs that some attacks on UN positions appeared to be deliberate.

Amid Israel’s ongoing ground invasion of southern Lebanon, the IDF and Hezbollah have continued to exchange rocket and missile fire across the Israel-Lebanon border. On Friday, approximately 100 rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, and Israeli raids in southern Lebanon resulted in civilian casualties, including a two-year-old girl.

In Beirut, rescue workers are still searching through rubble after two Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, which Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati claimed killed 22 civilians without warning. Israel has not commented on these strikes.

The recent surge in violence marks the continuation of heightened tensions since last October, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in response to a deadly Hamas attack. Israel has intensified its airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon, reportedly killing over 2,000 people, mostly civilians, and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to face an Israeli offensive, with at least 30 people reported killed in the Jabalia refugee camp, where aid groups warn thousands are trapped. Israel claims its operations are targeting Hamas fighters regrouping in northern Gaza.

Hezbollah insists it will cease fire only if a ceasefire is reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Despite escalating violence, UN peacekeeping forces will remain stationed in southern Lebanon, rejecting Israel’s call for their withdrawal to safer zones.