Link to Article: Ghana calls on Commonwealth to condemn attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon
Israel has been striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the Iranian-backed Shia group launching rockets and drones at the Israeli city of Haifa. The launches have occurred to avenge the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ghana has called on the Commonwealth to condemn Friday’s missile attack. The strike injured four of its United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Ghana foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa did not say who was responsible for the strikes, but said that the bombing was “an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend.” While Ghanaian officials have avoided saying who they believe was behind the strike, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has blamed Israel for the strike.
This event has taken place due to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. This article is important because it shows that there are rising tensions in the Middle East, and these tensions are also affecting other regions, like Africa. This shows how regional conflicts can escalate and spread to other countries. If these strikes continue then they could increase instability across the Middle East. I found it interesting that the Ghanaian officials have not explicitly called out Israel. I wonder if this is from the fear of targeting a powerful country. I also wonder if the UN is going to do anything in regard to the injury of its peacekeepers.
The main stakeholders in the article are Israel, Hezbollah, the UN, Iran, and Ghana. I think that Israel would argue that the strikes are necessary as a way of protecting themselves. On the other hand, Hezbollah would argue that it is not self defense and the president has blamed Israel for the strike. During when the article was posted the UN did not make any comment on the strikes. I do not think that Israel is going to stop striking countries across the Middle East and in other regions like sub-Saharan Africa. I think it is interesting to see how conflicts in one region are able to spread to other regions.
This article connects to the IB Global Politics themes and concepts of power, peace and conflict, and security. Power is shown through Israel launching the strikes which were aimed for its Lebanon targets, but ultimately injured Ghanaian peacekeepers. The theme of conflict is seen throughout the article with the ongoing hostility between Israel and Iranian groups, which is affecting peace and security.