BEIRUT (AP) – In a striking escalation of violence, Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed two Lebanese soldiers and injured two United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, intensifying fears of a broader conflict embroiling the region. The Lebanese Army reported that the airstrikes hit a building near a military checkpoint in Kafra, located in Bint Jbeil province.

This incident adds to the already precarious situation along the Lebanon-Israel border, where tensions have been mounting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. The airstrike comes just hours after Israeli troops opened fire on UN peacekeeping headquarters in southern Lebanon, wounding two peacekeepers.

Amid these escalating hostilities, Lebanon's military has largely remained on the sidelines, attempting to prevent full-scale warfare after Israeli ground forces invaded the southern region of Lebanon and Lebanese troops were forced to withdraw from their observation posts along the border in an effort to avoid confrontation.

Despite these efforts, the situation has increasingly placed Lebanese troops in harm's way. Earlier this month, another Israeli airstrike resulted in the death of one Lebanese soldier and injuries to another, reflecting the growing danger as Israel intensifies its campaign against Hezbollah.

The United Nations peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has also found itself caught in the crossfire. Following the recent airstrikes, one of the injured peacekeepers was hospitalized in Tyre, while the other was treated at the scene. In a separate incident, an Israeli army bulldozer struck the perimeter of a UNIFIL position, damaging equipment and structures. Criticism from international communities has been mounting as incidents involving UN peacekeepers continue to occur.

Meanwhile, Beirut experienced its deadliest air raid in over a year, with strikes killing at least 22 people as two residential buildings collapsed amid the bombardment. The targets of these strikes were reportedly linked to Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking Hezbollah security official, though reports indicate he was not present in the targeted locations at the time of the attack.

The devastating impact of these strikes highlights the plight of civilians caught in the conflict. Ahmad al-Khatib shared how his family endured the trauma of the blast, which left his wife critically injured and his daughter suffering from minor injuries while they were at home during the attack. 'The world suddenly turned upside down and darkness prevailed,' he recalled in distress.

Hezbollah's retaliation has been marked by increased rocket fire into northern Israel, with recent anti-tank missile strikes resulting in fatalities on the Israeli side. According to reports, over 2,100 Lebanese individuals—including fighters, civilians, and medical personnel—have lost their lives since the onset of the year-long conflict, with the majority occurring in the past few weeks.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that any support for Hezbollah could result in similar destruction as witnessed in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Concurrently, Israel has issued threats against Iran, asserting its right to retaliate after a barrage of missiles launched from Iranian territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States' support for Israel's intensified military operations, emphasizing the need for Israel to protect its citizens and handle the threat posed by Hezbollah.

As the conflict escalates, the international community watches with bated breath, wary of the potential for further regional destabilization. The situation in Lebanon remains fluid, with the specter of war looming ominously on the horizon.