Israeli Troops Clash with Hezbollah Near U.N. Base in South Lebanon

BEIRUT, Nov 22 – Israeli troops engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in various locations in southern Lebanon, including Naqoura, a coastal town that hosts the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL.

UNIFIL confirmed that heavy clashes were ongoing in Naqoura and the nearby village of Chamaa, northeast of the coastal town. The U.N. peacekeeping force, which is stationed at the southern edge of Lebanon near the Israeli border, reported that several of its posts had been targeted in recent days, with some peacekeepers injured since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1.

UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti stated that peacekeepers were monitoring the situation closely but confirmed that the personnel at their headquarters were safe for the time being. The violence comes a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.