'Israel' practicing scorched earth tactics in South Lebanon: MP
3 Min Read
Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Ali Fayyad criticizes the Israeli occupation's aggression on Southern Lebanon, saying it is systemic destruction and a scorched earth tactic.
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Destroyed buildings in an area of the village of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, located next to the Palestinian-Lebanese border area, as seen from northern Israel, December 5, 2024 (AP)
As Israeli forces continue their campaign of destruction in Lebanese border villages, including civilian properties, Lebanese MP Ali Fayyad, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, denounced the actions on Wednesday, describing them as "an insistence on turning the border area into scorched earth."
Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Fayyad dismissed Israeli claims of "destroying the Resistance's infrastructure," stating that these allegations are "untrue and merely serve as a pretext."
Fayyad criticized the Lebanese government's stance on the ongoing aggression, noting that it "lacks firmness and seems to have resigned itself to this trajectory until the end of the two-month deadline." He emphasized that "what deters the enemy is the balance of power held by the region's peoples in the face of Israeli aggression."
Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli forces carried out massive explosions in multiple neighborhoods in the town of Taybeh. The sounds of detonations echoed throughout the town, accompanied by the torching of several homes.
It is noteworthy that the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon is expected on Sunday, marking the end of the 60-day deadline.
Lebanese Army bolsters deployment
Lebanese Army units continue to reinforce their deployment in the towns of Ain Ebel, Debel, and Rmeish in the western sector of southern Lebanon, as well as the towns of Bint Jbeil and Ainatha in the central sector, following the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces.
In a statement, the army said this operation is being conducted in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Quintet Committee supervising the ceasefire agreement mechanism.
It added that specialized units are carrying out engineering surveys, clearing roads, removing debris, and addressing unexploded ordnance and suspicious objects left behind by the Israeli occupation military.
This comes as the occupation forces persist in their violations of the ceasefire agreement and infringements on Lebanese sovereignty, including the destruction of homes and infrastructure in several border areas.
Lebanon's newly elected President Joseph Aoun underlined on Saturday that "Israel" must complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the January 26 deadline established to fully implement the ceasefire agreed upon last year.
During a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Aoun stressed the necessity of "Israeli forces to withdraw from occupied territories in the south within the deadline set by the agreement reached on November 27."
A statement from Aoun’s office emphasized that "Israel's continued violations on land and in the air... blowing up homes and destroying border villages, completely contradicts what was stated in the ceasefire agreement."
According to the statement, Guterres affirmed that the UN would make every possible effort to ensure "Israel's" withdrawal within the timeframe outlined in the ceasefire agreement.
