West Asia conflict LIVE: Israeli military says four soldiers killed in Hezbollah drone attack on army base

On a day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the United Nations (UN) chief to move peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon out of “harm’s way”, saying the Hezbollah used them as “human shields”, Iran’s Foreign Minister vowed that there would be “no red lines” for the country in defending its people and interests, even as Iran awaits Israel’s response to the October 1 missile attack. 

Mr. Netanyahu’s appeal to UN chief Antonio Guterres came a day after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) refused to withdraw from the border area despite five of its members being injured amid recent fighting. “Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately,” he said in a video statement.

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on a visit to Baghdad to discuss the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, wrote on X, “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.” 

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a call with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday, stressed the importance of Israel taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Pentagon said. 

Mr. Austin, in the call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway to provide security for civilians as soon as feasible.

He said that steps must be taken soon to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said in the statement.

Reuters

A Hezbollah drone attack on an army base in central Israel killed four soldiers and severely wounded seven others Sunday, the military said, in the deadliest strike by the militant group since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.

The military statement came shortly after Israel’s national rescue service said the drone attack wounded 61 people.