Lebanon calls for international intervention following ‘israel’s’ fatal and injurious actions impacting dozens, despite established ceasefire
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has initiated dialogues with various Arab and international officials, calling for global intervention to exert pressure on the Israeli administration in Tel Aviv. This development follows a series of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon which resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals and injuries to 40 others.
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants announced that Rajji engaged in discussions with several key international figures, including Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, Deputy US Envoy for Middle East Peace Morgan Ortagus, and Natasha Franceschi, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria Engagement at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
The ministry announced that it had initiated calls as a component of diplomatic measures aimed at mitigating the rising tensions in southern Lebanon. These efforts were carried out in close coordination with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Rajji called on officials to exert influence on Israel to “halt its aggression and escalation and control the volatile situation along the southern border.”
Following reports from the Lebanese Health Ministry, a recent Israeli airstrike on Touline, located in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon, resulted in the deaths of five individuals, among them a child, and left 11 others injured. This incident preceded the latest round of diplomatic discussions.
In the eastern Lebanese province of Baalbek-Hermel, particularly in the towns of Housh al-Sayyid and Saraain, six individuals sustained injuries following airstrikes conducted by Israeli forces.
In a recent development, an Israeli drone strike struck a parking area in Tyre’s al-Raml neighborhood on Saturday evening, resulting in injuries to four individuals.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that an attack on Yohmor al-Shaqif in the Nabatieh province resulted in injuries to one individual. Additionally, two people sustained injuries during an aerial assault in the Kfarkila region.
In response to claims by Israel that the Metula settlement in the Galilee region was targeted by rockets from Lebanon, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on multiple villages and towns in southern Lebanon.
As of now, no organization has officially taken responsibility for the assault on Metula.
Following nearly 14 months of ongoing conflict and significant setbacks in its campaign against Lebanon, Israel has conceded to a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. This truce was officially enacted on November 27.
Since the commencement of the agreement, the occupying forces have been engaging in nearly daily assaults on Lebanon, breaching the ceasefire with a series of airstrikes across the Arab country.
On January 27, Lebanese authorities announced the extension of their ceasefire agreement with Israel, prolonging the truce until February 18.
Following the expiration of the February 18 deadline, Israel continues to maintain its hold on five strategically significant regions in southern Lebanon. These areas, situated near the border, comprise Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill.
Lebanon has condemned what it describes as the continued presence of Israeli military forces, alleging it violates the ceasefire agreement and the agreed timeline for withdrawal. Top officials in Beirut have declared their resolve to “utilize all available measures” to remove the occupying forces from Lebanese territory.
