### UN Peacekeeper Injured Amid Intensified Conflict Between Israel and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon

A UN peacekeeper has been wounded by gunfire at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) headquarters in Naquora, marking the fifth such injury in recent days. The incident occurred on Friday night during ongoing military activities in the area. UN officials noted that the source of the gunfire remains unknown. The injured peacekeeper underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition.

Tensions have escalated significantly in southern Lebanon, with Israeli troops launching a ground invasion against Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group. As hostilities escalate, Israeli forces have asked UN peacekeepers to vacate their positions; however, Unifil has collectively decided to remain in the region despite the increased risk.

Friday night saw considerable damage to UN positions in the village of Ramyah due to shelling, emphasizing the precariousness of the situation. In a statement, Unifil urged all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and to avoid combat activities near their positions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged responsibility for an earlier incident in which two Sri Lankan UN soldiers in Naquora were injured. The IDF claimed it opened fire upon identifying a threat, and the incident is under investigation. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry has strongly condemned the attack.

Additional clashes have resulted in further injuries to UN peacekeepers. Two Indonesian soldiers were hurt on Thursday when they fell from an observation tower after Israeli tanks fired at it. Commenting on the incident, Lt Gen Seán Clancy of the Irish Defence Forces dismissed the notion of an accidental strike, indicating it was a deliberate act. Currently, around 340 Irish troops are stationed in Lebanon as part of Unifil.

The heightened violence has drawn international condemnation. Leaders from France, Italy, and Spain have denounced Israel's actions, calling for an immediate cessation. Meanwhile, Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes north and south of Beirut have resulted in nine fatalities. Additionally, the IDF has ordered the evacuation of 23 southern Lebanese villages.

Hezbollah continues its offensive, firing about 320 projectiles into Israel, some of which have been intercepted by the IDF. The IDF has announced that several northern Israeli towns will be closed to civilians from Saturday evening.

Since 1978, around 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries have been stationed in Lebanon to monitor the buffer zone between the Litani River and the Israel-Lebanon border, known as the "Blue Line." The current escalation began after Hezbollah started firing rockets into northern Israel, in response to a deadly attack on southern Israel by Hamas. The conflict has intensified over the past three weeks, with significant casualties and displacements reported in Lebanon.

Lebanon has reported over 2,000 deaths, primarily from the recent surge in violence, with hundreds of thousands displaced. This week's Hezbollah rocket attacks have killed two Israeli civilians and a Thai national. Israel's actions have also drawn criticism from Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris, citing breaches of international law with their attacks on peacekeepers. In Beirut, 22 people died and more than 117 were wounded following air strikes in central areas, as reported by Lebanon's health ministry.