Israeli attacks in Lebanon: UN says it is "alarmed" by the impact of operations
The United Nations said on Thursday (28) it was "deeply alarmed" by the impact of the escalation of Israel's military actions in Lebanon, after dozens of deaths, including children, were reported by Lebanese authorities.
"We are deeply alarmed by the devastating impact of the intensification of Israeli military operations and population displacement orders. Urgent de-escalation is necessary," the UN Regional Human Rights Office for the Middle East and North Africa posted on its X social media account.
The UN also said that "preliminary information" indicates that numerous civilians, including women and children, are among the victims of the latest Israeli attacks.
The organization called for the population and civil infrastructure to be protected.
The statement was made on the same day that Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported that Israeli attacks killed at least 34 people and injured 77 others on Wednesday (27), in one of the most violent days since the start of the ceasefire in the country in April.
Attacks amid ceasefire
The bombings further strain the ceasefire announced on April 16 and extended for 45 days on May 15, which aimed to halt fighting between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, and occurred on the same day that Iran alleged that the United States violated a separate truce by attacking the south of the country.
Two sources said on Tuesday that Israeli armed forces had expanded their ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond the security zone, but did not provide further details on the extent of the advance beyond the so-called Yellow Line.
This line, distinct from the UN-demarcated "Blue Line" that marks the border between Lebanon and Israel following the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, is part of a proposed buffer zone extending 5km to 10km south of Lebanon.
The Israeli military has ordered residents not to return to dozens of villages in the area, and its troops have destroyed homes in the region.
An Israeli military official stated that the armed forces were "operating in a targeted manner beyond the Forward Line of Defense in order to eliminate direct threats to the citizens of the State of Israel" and to Israeli soldiers, "in accordance with the directives of the political leadership."
Netanyahu declared on Monday (25) that Israel would intensify its attacks against Hezbollah, while an American official said the Iran-backed group ignored warnings to stop attacks that risked harming negotiations to end the war between the United States and Israel against Iran.
Hezbollah claimed on Tuesday (26) to have attacked Israeli forces and tanks advancing towards the city of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, in southern Lebanon, with explosive drones, rockets and artillery.
Lebanon's Ministry of Health says the total number of deaths in the Israeli offensive since March 2, when Hezbollah launched projectiles at Israel in response to the start of the war with Iran, reached 3,213 dead and 9,737 injured as of May 26.
The Israeli army reported that 10 of its soldiers have been killed since the April 16 ceasefire, six of them by Hezbollah explosive drones.
The World Health Organization said at least 608 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire.
Hezbollah has not released figures on its own casualties.
Source: CNN