Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon flee as Israel expands its bombardment
PBS NewsHourSep 22
UN: Israeli Forces Fire on UN Peacekeepers in South Lebanon
Above: Debris covers the ground after an Israeli airstrike the night before killed a mother and three of her daughters and injured 18 according to the ministry of health on October 6, 2024 in Jiyeh, Lebanon. Image copyright: Daniel Carde/Stringer/Getty Images Europe via Getty Images
The Facts
The UN's peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Thursday that Israeli forces fired at its headquarters in Naqoura and nearby positions, injuring two peacekeepers from Indonesia after an Israeli Merkava tank fired at an observation tower.
A Western diplomatic official said that the tank fire was likely to be condemned at the UN Security Council. UNIFIL added in its statement that Israeli troops "deliberately fired at and disabled" monitoring cameras at position 1-31 in Labbouneh, and "deliberately fired on" position 1-32A in Ras Naqoura on Wednesday.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to the daily terror attacks it has seen since Oct. 7. However, it is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel is fighting an existential multi-front war, yet the US and its media refuse to give Israel a fair shake. As Israel battles Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza while mulling how to respond to a direct Iranian attack, the US is working to restrict Israel's actions by meddling in its internal politics. Israel must make clear to the US that it will take whatever action it deems necessary.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's aggressive posture only demonstrates that it is a rogue state that would rather light the region on fire than stop its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and its destruction of Lebanon. Netanyahu continues to engage in provocative acts because he has failed to achieve his political and military objectives. While Netanyahu extends the war to ensure his political survival, the US continues to support Israel with a blank check and obfuscate its role in the carnage.