In a recent drone assault, four Israeli soldiers lost their lives as Hezbollah unleashed a “swarm of drones” on a military installation, marking one of the most lethal strikes by the Iran-backed group since Israel started its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.

In related news, the United Nations has accused Israeli forces of breaching a base used by its peacekeeping team in southern Lebanon.

The drone attack by Hezbollah resulted in injuries to 61 individuals, with three in critical condition, as reported by Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, in a recent post on X.

According to Hezbollah, they targeted a camp belonging to Israel’s Golani Brigade in Binyamina, located approximately 35 miles north of Tel Aviv, using an array of unmanned aerial vehicles. They claimed to employ new drone technology that bypassed the camp’s defensive measures and went undetected.

The area is on high alert for possible retaliation from Israel following recent missile strikes carried out by Iran on Tel Aviv, which they described as revenge for the assassination of several Hezbollah leaders, including their top figure, Hassan Nasrallah.

Over the past year, Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, has increased its rocket attacks into northern Israel. The border tensions have intensified following Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths. Israel retaliated with military operations in Gaza that, according to the Gazan Health Ministry run by Hamas, have led to over 40,000 Palestinian fatalities.

U.S. officials are expressing concerns that the rising tensions between Hezbollah, labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S., and Israel could lead to a more extensive regional conflict in the Middle East, prompting efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.

The UN reports an incident involving Israeli tanks

Smoke from the gunfire that entered the camp affected 15 personnel, causing symptoms such as skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues.

Additionally, Israeli forces prevented a “critical UNIFIL logistical movement” near Meiss El Jabal, a village close to Lebanon’s southern border, as reported by the peacekeeping force. They added, “We have formally asked the IDF for clarification regarding these alarming violations.”

Israel, in response, stated that the tanks were conducting an evacuation of 25 Israeli soldiers who had sustained injuries from Hezbollah’s anti-tank missiles near the UNIFIL base. The operation involved using smoke as a cover for the evacuation, according to Israeli sources.

“This was not an intrusion into a base, nor an attempt to invade,” said Nadav Shoshani, the military’s international spokesperson, to the press. “It was a tank caught in heavy fire making a retreat to safeguard its operators.”

This incident highlights the continuing escalating confrontation between Israel’s military and the United Nations. The peacekeeping mission reported that recent Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon pose risks to its personnel, which contravenes international law. The U.N. noted that several personnel have been injured in recent days due to explosions, with one requiring surgery after being shot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of using U.N. peacekeepers as a “human shield,” hiding soldiers and weaponry in their posts. He called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday to “remove UNIFIL forces from danger zones. This should be done immediately.”

In a statement from his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres described the tank incident as “deeply concerning” and urged “all parties, including the IDF, to refrain from actions that could endanger our peacekeepers.”

“Attacks targeting peacekeepers violate international law, including humanitarian law,” he added, indicating they might constitute a war crime.

In a statement on Monday through X, Israeli Energy Minister

Eli Cohen expressed that Israel has no intention to harm U.N. peacekeeping forces, but noted that these missions have not helped in upholding stability and security in the area. He believes they act as a protection for Hezbollah.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended his sympathies to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding the IDF soldiers who lost their lives in the recent drone strike, as reported by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. Austin also emphasized the necessity for Israel to take appropriate actions to ensure the protection of UNIFIL forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces, according to a statement from Sunday.