Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: Netanyahu calls UN troops Hezbollah 'human shields'

U.N. peacekeepers claim IDF tanks breached their base in southern Lebanon.

Last Updated: October 13, 2024, 5:51 PM EDT

The Israel Defense Forces continued intense air and ground campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The uptick in offensive operations came days after Israel marked the anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7 assault and as Israeli leaders planned their response to last week's Iranian ballistic missile attack.

Oct 11, 2024, 12:25 PM EDT

UNIFIL says 2 peacekeepers injured in southern Lebanon explosions

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said two peacekeepers were injured in two explosions that occurred near its headquarters in southern Lebanon Friday morning local time.

This marked the second time its headquarters were affected by explosions in the last 48 hours, UNIFIL said.

UNIFIL also said an Israeli military bulldozer knocked over several protective walls at one of the U.N. posts along the southern Lebanese border on Friday.

"These incidents put again UN peacekeepers, who are serving in south Lebanon at the request of the Security Council under resolution 1701 (2006), at very serious risks," UNIFIL said in a statement. "This is a serious development, and UNFIL reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times."

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that soldiers were responding to an "immediate threat" near the UNIFIL post and it is "continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident." It said Hezbollah "deliberately operates with the intent to harm Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts, thereby endangering UNIFIL personnel."

Israel on Thursday recommended that UNIFIL relocate farther north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies, after the mission said two troops were injured by Israeli fire.

Oct 10, 2024, 4:13 PM EDT

Israel recommends UNIFIL relocate to avoid danger 'as fighting intensifies'

Israel recommended that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon relocate farther north, after the mission said two troops were injured in the south of the country by Israeli fire.

"Our dialogue and coordination with UNIFIL will continue in southern Lebanon," Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, said in a statement Thursday. "Our recommendation is that UNIFIL relocate five kilometers north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies and while the situation along the Blue Line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah's aggression.

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier Thursday that Hezbollah operates near UNIFIL posts, and that they told U.N. forces in the area "to remain in protected spaces." The IDF did not comment on the two UNIFIL peacekeepers being wounded.

Oct 10, 2024, 4:05 PM EDT

22 killed in Beirut strikes: Health ministry

At least 22 people were killed and 117 injured after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut Thursday evening local time, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.

Israeli forces have since issued another evacuation warning to residents in Haret Hreik in the Dahieh area of Beirut.

Amnesty International on Thursday called Israel's evacuation warnings "inadequate" and "in some cases also misleading."

"Our analysis shows that not only did the warnings issued by the Israeli military include misleading maps, but they were also issued at short notice -- in one instance less than 30 minutes before strikes began -- in the middle of the night, via social media, when many people would be asleep, offline or not following media reports," Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's secretary general, said in a statement.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz

Oct 10, 2024, 3:03 PM EDT

2nd round of Gaza polio vaccinations set to begin next week: UNICEF

A second round of polio vaccinations in Gaza is set to begin next week, according to UNICEF.

An agreement on humanitarian pauses has been reached to allow for the second dose on Oct. 14, targeting 590,000 children under the age of 10, UNICEF said Thursday.

The first round of vaccinations ended in mid-September, reaching 90% vaccination coverage, UNICEF said at the time.

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