2nd time in 2 days, UN mission in Lebanon hit, 2 peacekeepers hurt

The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said new explosions hit its headquarters on Friday morning, injuring two peacekeepers, a day after Israeli forces struck the same position. The force, known as UNIFIL, said the explosions went off close to an observation tower at its headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura. One of the injured peacekeepers was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Tyre, while the other was treated at the site. It did not specify the cause of the blasts.

It also said an Israeli army bulldozer hit the perimeter of another of its positions in southern Lebanon while Israeli tanks moved nearby. Additional peacekeepers were sent to reinforce the position, it said.

The Israeli military said it had instructed personnel with UNIFIL to go to protected areas and remain there hours before the incident.

In central Beirut, rescue workers were searching through the rubble of a collapsed building Friday, hours after two Israeli strikes hit the Lebanese capital, killing at least 22 people and wounding dozens. The air raid was the deadliest attack on central Beirut in over a year of war, hitting two residential buildings.

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television and Israeli media said the strikes aimed to kill Wafiq Safa, a top security official with the group. Al-Manar said Safa was not in either building at the time.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday reiterated US support for Israel’s escalated campaign against Hezbollah. France summoned Israel’s ambassador. Russia said it was “outraged”.