Italy Admits Hezbollah Staged UNIFIL Attack, Shifting Responsibility from Israel

In a significant turn of events, Italy's defense ministry has confirmed that Hezbollah was behind the attack on a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base, which was initially blamed on Israel. The incident, which occurred last week, involved an unexploded artillery shell hitting the UNIFIL base. Initially, Italy's defense minister Guido Crosetto had suggested that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were responsible for staging the attack on the peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

However, following an internal review, the Israeli military confirmed that Hezbollah had fired the rocket, specifically from the area of Deir Aames, located in Lebanon. UNIFIL also aligned with the IDF's assessment, agreeing that the strikes were likely launched by non-state actors within Lebanon, identifying Hezbollah as the responsible group. Fortunately, no peacekeepers were injured, as the areas hit were not occupied by personnel.

The day after the initial attack, additional rocket fire targeted multiple UNIFIL bases, including locations in Ramyeh and Chamaa. Despite the rocket strikes, there have been no serious injuries reported, but the tension between Hezbollah, Israel, and peacekeeping forces remains high.

The recent developments highlight the ongoing instability in southern Lebanon and the continued involvement of Hezbollah in military actions against both Israel and UN peacekeeping forces. As the situation evolves, both Israel and international bodies like the UN continue to monitor the region's security.