Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

Hezbollah says Israel using UN troops as ‘human shields’ in south Lebanon

The Cradle | October 8, 2024

Hezbollah has ordered its fighters not to attack Israeli forces who established a forward operating base behind UN peacekeeping troops (UNIFIL) near a Lebanese border village, effectively using them as human shields.

“The Israeli enemy is attempting to use UNIFIL forces as human shields to cover its failure to advance toward the village, especially after its repeated and unsuccessful attempts to advance toward Maroun al-Ras and the loss of dozens of its soldiers, both killed and wounded,” a statement issued by the Islamic resistance movement on 7 October said.

“The operations room of the Islamic Resistance instructed the fighters to hold back and not engage with the movement to protect the lives of international soldiers,” the statement added.

The day before, UNIFIL had warned Israel’s operations near their position at Maroun al-Ras were an “extremely dangerous development.”

“It is unacceptable to compromise the safety of UN peacekeepers carrying out their Security Council-mandated tasks,” UNIFIL stated while reminding all actors in the conflict of their obligations to protect UN personnel and property.

On Saturday, UNIFIL said it remained in all positions near the border despite what it said was an Israeli request to “relocate.”

In response to the peacekeepers’ refusal, US foreign policy advisor Matthew Brodsky suggested in a post on X, “Israel should carpet bomb Irish area, then drop Napalm on it.”

Hezbollah fighters are resisting an Israeli ground invasion that began last week.

On Monday, Hezbollah fighters attacked a gathering of Israeli forces in Maroun al-Ras with rockets, while the Israeli army said it had deployed a third division to participate in ground operations in Lebanon.

Israel’s ground maneuvers follow its intensified bombing campaign of Lebanon that began on 23 September. Israel has bombed targets in south Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and around Beirut, killing more than 1,110 people since then. The widespread bombing of civilian homes has left over one million people internally displaced.

Hezbollah released a statement on Monday, the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, saying it and the Lebanese people have paid a “heavy price” for its decision to enter the battle against Israel and open a support front for Gaza.

“The enemy continues its crimes and aggression without limits, but we are confident, if Allah wills, in our resistance’s ability to repel the aggression, and in our great and resistant people to endure and hold out until this calamity is lifted,” the statement affirmed.

October 8, 2024 - Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , ,

1 Comment »

  1. Well at least they are not tying 10 year old Palestinian boys to the Tanks as they do in Gaza and the West Bank. (and yes we have pictures that we cannot load on wordpress)

    Like

    peterjohnarnold's avatar Comment by peterjohnarnold | October 9, 2024 | Reply


Leave a reply to peterjohnarnold Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.