Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday called on the United States and the international community to take urgent action to halt Israeli violations in Lebanon and hold those responsible accountable.
اضافة اعلان
Aoun stressed that despite all these attacks, Lebanon remains committed to safeguarding its sovereignty, stability in the south and the safety of its citizens.
He condemned the renewed Israeli attacks on the city of Nabatieh and its surrounding towns, which resulted in innocent casualties and caused extensive damage to the Finance Ministry building there, as well as the destruction of the Ghaddour Hospital.
“This targeting represents a dangerous escalation that goes beyond repeated violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement and the framework agreement, this time striking Lebanese state institutions and service facilities that serve citizens and address their daily needs, in addition to a hospital and healthcare centers,” Aoun said.
He noted that “the targeting of the Finance Ministry building, following the targeting of the State Security center, which previously resulted in martyrs, reveals a continuing pattern of attacks that extends beyond purported military targets to purely civilian administrative offices and healthcare facilities, reflecting a clear intention to undermine the continuity of Lebanese state institutions and disrupt people’s daily interests.”
Aoun held the Israeli side fully responsible for the ongoing escalation.
Lebanon and Israel concluded a framework agreement on June 26 following five rounds of US-sponsored negotiations. The agreement calls, in particular, for the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese Army beginning in “pilot areas.”
The framework agreement provides for a reciprocal and gradual process under which the Lebanese Army would regain effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, alongside the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their infrastructure. This would allow the Israeli occupation forces to redeploy outside Lebanese territory under security arrangements and verification mechanisms set out in a security annex with US support.
Hezbollah categorically rejects direct negotiations with Israel and giving up its weapons.
Israel continues to maintain forces in southern Lebanon under the designation of a “security zone” extending up to 10 kilometers deep along its border, while continuing to carry out strikes and large-scale demolition and blasting operations.
Washington has announced that it will sponsor a new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome in early September, expressing its “satisfaction with the way things are developing.”
The latest war erupted after Hezbollah launched missiles toward Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran.
