Two UN staff members killed in Lebanon
The Israeli Defense Forces conducted a simulated ground attack on Lebanon on the 24th. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed on the 24th that two of its staff members were killed in the Israeli airstrike on Lebanon.
According to the Times of Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Galant said in a speech at the simulation exercise on the 24th that the Israeli army is ready to launch more strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He said that compared with a week ago, Hezbollah has suffered serious blows in terms of command, personnel, weapons, etc., and Hezbollah has not yet seen the full capabilities of the Israeli army.
The report said the troops involved in the exercise had combat experience in the Gaza Strip. The exercise was the latest in a series of drills conducted by the Israeli army to prepare for a ground offensive against Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on the 24th, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Israeli Chief of Staff Halevy that evening to discuss the next stage of the fight against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah announced on the 25th that it had launched a ballistic missile at central Israel that day in response to the explosion of communications equipment and the assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander.
Hezbollah said on the 24th that it had fired about 90 rockets at a military base in northern Israel. According to the Associated Press, an Israeli military spokesman said that as of the evening of the 24th, Hezbollah had fired about 300 rockets at northern Israel that day, injuring six people.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued a statement on the 24th expressing "anger and deep sorrow" over the deaths of two of its staff members in the Israeli air strike on Lebanon on the 23rd.
According to the BBC, the victims were Dina Dawij, who worked in the Bekaa in eastern Lebanon, and Ali Basma, who worked in Tyre in southern Lebanon. Dawij had worked for the UNHCR for 12 years. Her youngest son was also killed in the bombing, and her husband and eldest son were seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, posted on social media on the 24th that Israel's air strikes on Lebanon have ruthlessly killed hundreds of civilians. "I am saddened to confirm that two UNHCR colleagues were also killed yesterday. On behalf of all UNHCR staff, I express my deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues."
UN Secretary-General Guterres said on the same day that Lebanon is on the brink of crisis. The Lebanese people, the Israeli people and the people of the world cannot accept Lebanon becoming "another Gaza Strip."
Slovenia, the rotating chair of the UN Security Council this month, said on the 24th that the Security Council will hold a meeting on the situation in Lebanon and Israel on the 25th.