Biden: Israel should ‘absolutely’ stop strikes on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

President Biden said Friday that Israel should “absolutely” stop strikes on the U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, following two incidents the group was involved in this week. 

When asked Friday if he would encourage Israel to halt the attacks on the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), the president said “absolutely,” according to pool reports.

His response came after UNIFIL said in a statement Friday that its headquarters in Naqoura — a city in southern Lebanon — had been hit by explosions for the second time in two days. The mission said two of its peacekeepers were injured following the strike, which took place near its observation tower.

One injured member is currently being treated in Naqoura, while the other was transported to Tyre, according to the statement. UNIFIL said the incidents put their members at “very serious” risk and called the second incident a “serious” development.

Initially, UNIFIL accused the Israeli military of injuring two other peacekeepers a day earlier, after an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) tank fired toward an observation tower at the headquarters.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Thursday and raised concern about the strikes.

“Secretary Austin also emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of UNIFIL forces in the area and urged coordinating efforts to pivot from military operations to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible,” the Pentagon’s readout said. 

The leaders of France, Italy and Spain condemned the attacks and emphasized that peacekeepers need to be protected. 

The development follows Israel’s limited incursion into Lebanon in late September. It also comes as Israel has faced cross-border attacks from Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. After the group confirmed an Israeli strike killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and other officials, the conflict has ticked up in the region.

The nearly one-year conflict in the region — sparked by fighting in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas — has sparked fears of a wider war.