UNIFIL warns of possible 'dangerous escalation' across the region

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
7 Apr 2023 08:06
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The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon urge both sides of the border to de-escalate, given that any escalation could lead to regional instability.

A United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping force vehicle patrols in the southern coastal border Lebanese town of Naqoura, Lebanon, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP)

The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which are deployed on the Southern border of the country, announced, on Friday, that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) had informed it at night of its intention to "respond" to rockets initially launched in southern Lebanon.

In its statement, UNIFIL accounted that shelling had been observed in the vicinity of Tyre in southern Lebanon, indicating that "the Israeli and Lebanese sides have confirmed their unwillingness to head into war."

UNIFIL STATEMENT:

Early this morning, the IDF informed UNIFIL that they will begin an artillery response to yesterday’s rocket launches.

Immediately after, UNIFIL personnel heard loud explosions around the city of Tyre.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) April 7, 2023

UNIFIL noted that "the Force Commander, General Harold Lazaro, spoke to the authorities on both sides of the Blue Line", asserting that the two sides "did not want war," adding that "the events of the past day may lead to a dangerous escalation in the region."

Finally, the UNIFIL statement urged "all parties to cease all actions" on both sides of the border.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent confirmed that three Israeli missiles landed south of the city of Tyre, two of them in agricultural areas and another in the Qlaileh Plain, noting that the Israeli aggression did not result in significant casualties.

Earlier, the Israeli occupation's military said 34 rockets were launched on Thursday from southern Lebanon on occupied Al-Jalil.

The occupation said the Iron Dome air security system intercepted 25 of the projectiles, adding that at least five rockets landed in occupied Palestinian lands.

The Times of "Israel" highlighted that the attack "may mark the largest number of rockets fired from Lebanon" since the July 2006 war.

The Israeli occupation military's spokesperson claimed that the Israeli army attacked last night Hamas infrastructure and sites in southern Lebanon.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent confirmed that the windows of a number of houses near the areas targeted by the Israeli aggression were shattered.

This coincided with the Israeli occupation warplanes launching an aggression against the Gaza Strip, which was followed by a response of the Palestinian Resistance to the aggression with various missiles.