14-10-2024 (BEIRUT) A drone attack on an Israeli military training camp near Haifa has resulted in the deaths of four soldiers and left over 60 wounded. The assault, which took place on Sunday, marks the deadliest attack on an Israeli base since the intensification of hostilities in late September.
The Israeli military confirmed that the attack targeted the Binyamina camp, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Haifa. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it had launched “a squadron of attack drones” in retaliation for recent Israeli operations in Lebanon.
This latest incident comes amid a backdrop of intensifying cross-border violence. Israel has expanded its bombardments of Lebanon, while Hezbollah has increased the range and frequency of its rocket and drone attacks into Israeli territory. The conflict has seen a sharp escalation since late September, with both sides engaged in daily exchanges of fire.
In a chilling warning, Hezbollah declared that the Binyamina attack was “nothing compared to what awaits” Israel if it continues its aggression. This threat underscores the potential for further escalation in a region already fraught with tension.
The situation has been further complicated by reports of Israeli forces entering a United Nations peacekeeping position in southern Lebanon. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) accused Israeli troops of forcibly entering one of their positions with two tanks, an allegation that Israel disputes, claiming a tank had inadvertently backed into the UN post while under fire.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers in the region, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes. The UNIFIL mission, comprising approximately 9,500 troops, operates under a UN Security Council mandate to maintain stability in southern Lebanon.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilian populations on both sides of the border. In Gaza, Palestinian authorities reported that an Israeli strike on a school being used as a shelter for displaced people had killed at least 15 individuals, including entire families. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon had resulted in multiple casualties.
The international community has expressed growing concern over the escalating violence. French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to support “a general de-escalation” in Lebanon and Gaza.
In response to the heightened threats, the United States has announced plans to deploy a high-altitude anti-missile system to Israel to bolster its defences against potential Iranian attacks.
