Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen has labeled the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as a “useless” entity, accusing it of failing to protect Israel from attacks by Hezbollah. In a post on X, Cohen urged the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from combat zones as fighting intensifies in the region.
“The State of Israel will do everything to ensure the safety of its citizens, and if the UN cannot help, at least it should not interfere,” he stated, highlighting Israel’s frustrations with the peacekeeping force amid ongoing hostilities.
Tensions have escalated between Israel and the UN regarding the role of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are conducting operations aimed at dismantling the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its military infrastructure. In a recent incident, the UN reported that Israeli tanks entered a peacekeeping base, alleging violations of the ceasefire agreement. Israel has disputed this account, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoing Cohen’s call for UNIFIL’s withdrawal, stating the peacekeepers are inadvertently providing “human shields” for Hezbollah.
UNIFIL confirmed that two Israeli Merkava tanks breached the main gate of their base early Monday, resulting in the destruction of the facility’s entrance. Following the incident, shells exploded nearby, causing smoke to drift across the base and making UN personnel ill. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reassured that Irish peacekeepers were safe and accounted for after the incident.
In a demonstration of military might, the IDF took foreign journalists into southern Lebanon, showcasing a Hezbollah tunnel shaft located less than 200 meters from a UNIFIL position. Brigadier General Yiftach Norkin claimed these tunnels were constructed in recent years. The IDF asserts that it has successfully destroyed numerous Hezbollah tunnels, rocket launchers, and command posts since launching its ground operation near the Lebanese border.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized EU member states for their delayed response in condemning Israel’s actions against UNIFIL soldiers, describing the assaults as “completely unacceptable.”
Amid the conflict, Israel’s military reported a Hezbollah drone attack that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers at a northern base. This attack, which occurred at a military training camp in Binyamina near Haifa, marks the deadliest assault on Israeli forces since September 23.
In Gaza, reports indicate that the death toll from an Israeli strike on a school serving as a shelter for displaced individuals has risen to 15, with separate overnight airstrikes on a hospital killing four.
Hezbollah, responding to the ongoing Israeli offensives, warned that the recent attacks in Haifa were just the beginning of their retaliation if Israel continues its aggressive actions. The group has previously claimed to have launched rockets at Israeli positions, further escalating tensions along the border.
According to various sources, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,300 people in Lebanon since September 23, surpassing the death toll of the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict. The Pentagon has announced plans to deploy a high-altitude anti-missile system and U.S. military personnel to Israel to assist in defending against potential Iranian threats.
As both sides brace for further confrontations, the situation in the region remains tense, with implications for both local and international stability.
