On October 12, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that one of its peacekeepers was injured amid ongoing military activity in the area. The statement was made in the context of increasing tensions, as Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that Israeli strikes across several locations in the country resulted in at least 15 fatalities that same day.
According to UNIFIL, one peacekeeper stationed at the Patrol Base in Nakura was shot on the evening of October 11. The injured peacekeeper is currently receiving treatment in a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition, though it remains unclear who opened fire.
This incident marks the fifth reported injury among UNIFIL peacekeepers in recent weeks. On the same day, representatives from 40 nations that contribute personnel to UNIFIL signed a joint statement condemning the attacks on peacekeeping forces. They called for an immediate cessation of such actions and urged thorough investigations. The statement reaffirmed support for UNIFIL’s mandates and activities, emphasizing the need for all parties in the conflict to respect the presence of the peacekeepers.
Reports from various sources, including AFP, CNN, and Reuters, reveal that the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported casualties from Israeli bombardments in a village north of Beirut, where 9 people were killed and 15 others injured. Additional airstrikes in the southern areas of Beirut and in northern Lebanon’s Dair al-Balah resulted in another 6 deaths and 22 injuries.
The Israeli military, when asked for comments by CNN, stated they were not aware of any attacks occurring in those locations on October 12.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Beirut on the same day to meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and visit sites previously attacked by Israel. Qalibaf reiterated Iran’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese people and emphasized the responsibility to care for the region’s oppressed and displaced populations.
In a related development, the Israeli Times reported that on October 12, rockets were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, with some reportedly intercepted.
Additionally, Carla Skaw, deputy executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), expressed concern during her visit to Beirut about the potential closure of Lebanon’s ports and airports due to the ongoing Israeli offensive against Hezbollah, which could severely impact food supply to the country. Skaw called for keeping supply lines open and encouraged all possible diplomatic efforts to find a political resolution to the conflict.
Furthermore, Palestinian news agencies reported that Israeli forces continued their assaults on the Al-Jabalia refugee camp in northeastern Gaza on October 12, resulting in casualties. Hamas stated that the Israeli “massacre of civilians” was an attempt to punish residents who refused to evacuate their homes, underscoring that Israel had failed to defeat Hamas.
According to medical reports cited by Palestinian news outlets, Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours resulted in at least 49 deaths and 219 injuries in Gaza. The WFP reported that key transit points to northern Gaza have been closed since October 1, with no food aid entering the area. The WFP described the situation as a severe disruption to the vital food assistance lifeline to northern Gaza.
