Hezbollah fighting Israeli troops near Lebanon's Ramya village UN peacekeeper injured

On October 13, Hezbollah announced heavy fighting with Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate the village of Ramya in southern Lebanon, marking the latest escalation in Israel's conflict with the Iran-backed group.

As clashes intensified, a third United Nations peacekeeper was injured, drawing international condemnation over attacks on U.N. forces stationed in the region, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Israeli airstrikes have rocked the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)'s main base, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to issue a strong rebuke. UNIFIL labelled the strikes a “serious development,” urging all parties to ensure the safety of U.N. personnel and facilities.

France, Italy, and Spain swiftly condemned the strikes, deeming them “unjustifiable,” while summoning the Israeli ambassador. U.S. President Joe Biden also pressed Israel to avoid targeting U.N. peacekeepers, and Russia expressed outrage, demanding Israel halt "hostile actions" against the U.N. force.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 29 Palestinians on Saturday, as Israel’s forces pushed further into the Jabalia refugee camp. Thousands of civilians are reportedly trapped in the densely populated northern enclave, which has been pummeled by air and ground strikes.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) revealed that Hezbollah fired over 320 projectiles from Lebanon into Israeli territory on Saturday. In response, Israel declared several northern towns off-limits and issued evacuation orders for 23 southern Lebanese villages, advising residents to move north of the Awali River due to heightened Hezbollah activity. The IDF accused Hezbollah of using civilian areas to hide weapons and launch attacks, a claim the militant group denies.

Simultaneously, Israel issued evacuation warnings for two neighbourhoods on the northern edge of Gaza City, describing the area as a "dangerous combat zone." However, Gaza’s Hamas-controlled interior ministry urged civilians to remain in place, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated significantly since it began over a year ago when Hezbollah launched rockets in solidarity with Hamas following the outbreak of the Gaza war. In recent weeks, Israel has expanded its military campaign, striking targets across southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah has retaliated with rocket fire deep into Israeli territory.

Lebanon’s government reports that the year-long conflict has displaced over 1.2 million people and resulted in more than 2,100 deaths and 10,000 injuries, including scores of women and children. The death toll, which includes both civilians and combatants, continues to rise as the conflict drags on.

By Khagan Isayev