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The UN reports heavy fighting in southern Lebanon

2024-11-22 16:45:14, Kosova & Bota CNA

The UN reports heavy fighting in southern Lebanon

Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah - the militant group and political party that controls most of southern Lebanon - on November 22 in various parts of southern Lebanon, including in a town where United Nations peacekeepers are based.

A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, known by the acronym UNIFIL, told The Associated Press that they were monitoring "fierce fighting" in the coastal town of Nakura and the northeastern village of Chama.

UNIFIL's headquarters are located in Nakura, in the southernmost corner of Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

"We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases," said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti. Asked if the peacekeepers and headquarters staff were safe, the lieutenant said, "Yes, for now."

Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel launched a ground offensive in Lebanon on November 1, injuring several peacekeepers.

The fierce fighting comes a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. The ICC has also issued arrest warrants against a military leader of Hamas - the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union - accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza that began in October 2023.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 250 others. Close to 100 hostages are still inside Gaza and at least a third of them are believed to be dead.

Israel has also carried out airstrikes in Lebanon, after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks a day after the start of the war in Gaza. In September, the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated./ REL





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