After two UN peacekeepers were wounded by an Israeli strike near their watchtower in south Lebanon, US President Joe Biden said he was asking Israel not to hit Unifil forces, Reuters reports.

Russia said it was “outraged” and demanded Israel refrain from “hostile actions” against peacekeepers. The United Nations said both were from Sri Lanka.

The Israeli military said air raid sirens sounded in central Israel and two drones were detected from Lebanon late on Friday. It said it successfully intercepted one drone but one building in Herzliya sustained some damage. No casualties were reported.

The Israeli military said two peacekeepers had been hurt by Israeli fire as it was engaging Hezbollah and expressed “deep concern”. It said they had been warned hours earlier to take shelter.

In a sign of a spreading conflict, a Syrian security source said that the US-led coalition in Syria had targeted Iran-linked sites near northeastern Syria’s Deir el-Zor airport on Friday night.

Opinion

Editorial

Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...
Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...