Lebanon does not seek war; will not tolerate aggression: Def. Minister

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
12 Oct 2024 15:37
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Lebanon's Defense Minister says that "Israel's" assaults on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reflect its disregard for international resolutions.

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Mourners place a Lebanese flag over the body of a person killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern village of Bazuriyeh a day earlier, ahead of his funeral on October 12, 2024. (AFP)

While Lebanon does not seek war, it will not tolerate the continuation of Israeli aggression, Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Sleem said on Saturday.

The Lebanese Minister emphasized the need for the international community to exert strong pressure on "Israel" to compel it to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and halt its attacks on Lebanon.

The Resolution was reached in the wake of the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon and calls for the full cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to Southern Lebanon, as well as the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line buffer zone (between Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories) and the Litani River.

"Israel" completely disregarded the resolution in the aftermath of the war, continuously violating Lebanese sovereignty with overflights from its aircraft.

His statement comes after the Lebanese Army announced on Friday that two of its soldiers were martyred and three others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting a military position in the town of Kafra, South Lebanon.

This comes amid an ongoing Israeli aggression across Lebanon, especially the country's southern and eastern regions, as well as Beirut's Southern Suburb, which has so far killed more than 1,200 people and displaced millions since September 23.

Israeli attacks on UNIFIL sites in South Lebanon

Sleem also pointed out that "Israel's" assaults on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reflect its disregard for international resolutions and the peacekeeping mandate of these forces.

UNIFIL reported that its headquarters in al-Naqoura had been struck twice in 48 hours, with peacekeepers wounded by explosions near an observation tower on Friday, as a spokesperson informed AFP.

UNIFIL issued a grave warning about the "very serious risks" facing their personnel.

This follows Thursday’s incident, when UNIFIL reported that its positions had been "repeatedly hit," leading to injuries of two Indonesian peacekeepers, which triggered widespread international condemnation.

On Friday morning, explosions near UNIFIL's headquarters in al-Naqoura occurred for the second time in 48 hours. Two peacekeepers were injured following blasts near an observation tower, with a UNIFIL spokesperson confirming that the wounded personnel were Sri Lankan.

Later on Friday, UNIFIL reported additional incidents, including the collapse of several blast walls at a UN position near the Blue Line in Labbouneh. The damage was caused when an Israeli Caterpillar vehicle hit the perimeter, and tanks moved near the UN post.

"These incidents put again UN peacekeepers, who are serving in south Lebanon at the request of the Security Council under resolution 1701 (2006), at very serious risks," the mission warned.

Thursday’s incident, which saw an Israeli tank fire at a watchtower at UNIFIL's headquarters in al-Naqoura, also caused injuries. The attack was met with strong condemnation from several UNIFIL member states, including Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, and China.

UNIFIL further reported that "Israel" struck the entrance to a bunker sheltering peacekeepers in al-Labbouneh, damaging vehicles and communications systems. The mission added that an Israeli military drone was spotted flying inside the UN position near the bunker entrance.