Oct 8,V7N- The United States expressed its commitment to ensuring the safety of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon, stating that they should not be endangered in any way, including potential attacks from Israel. This message was conveyed by the State Department on Monday, emphasizing the critical role that the UN mission plays in maintaining security within the country.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that the U.S. believes Israel's ground operations in Lebanon have been relatively limited so far, even as Israeli forces appear ready to expand their ground raids into southern Lebanon on the first anniversary of the Gaza war. Additionally, Miller highlighted U.S. concerns about maintaining access to roads leading to Beirut's airport.

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed serious concerns over Israel's "recent activities" near its positions in Lebanon. Miller reiterated the U.S. stance, stating, "We don't want to see UNIFIL forces put in danger in any way." UNIFIL is tasked with assisting the Lebanese army in keeping the area free from weapons and armed groups other than those of the Lebanese state, which has led to tensions with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, who effectively governs southern Lebanon.

Last week, the Israeli military advised U.N. peacekeepers to prepare for relocation more than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border, known as the Blue Line, to ensure their safety. However, the U.N. peacekeeping chief confirmed on Thursday that peacekeepers remain in place and serve as the sole communication link between the armed forces of both countries.As the conflict intensifies, Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with Hezbollah since the group launched a missile barrage in support of Hamas on October 8.

What started as limited exchanges has escalated into bombardments in Hezbollah's strongholds in Beirut and a ground offensive against border villages aimed at eliminating Hezbollah fighters. This Israeli campaign has resulted in over 1,000 deaths in the past two weeks, causing a mass exodus from southern Lebanon, displacing more than 1 million people.

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