Lebanese Army condemns Israeli strikes, warns of reassessing coordination with ceasefire committee
The Lebanese Army issued a statement Friday condemning recent Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, including the latest airstrikes that targeted areas in Beirut's southern suburbs and South Lebanon overnight.
The army described the actions as part of an escalating pattern of daily violations by Israel, which it said have increasingly targeted civilians, residential buildings, and vital infrastructure. It also accused Israel of disregarding the ceasefire framework and the efforts of the ceasefire monitoring committee under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
"These attacks, particularly the latest one on the eve of the holidays, clearly aim to hinder Lebanon's recovery and obstruct efforts to leverage recent positive developments," the statement read.
The army noted that it had promptly coordinated with the committee following Israel's threats, attempting to prevent the strikes through diplomatic channels. Military patrols were dispatched to multiple sites to assess the situation, but Israel rejected the proposed de-escalation measures.
Reaffirming its commitment to Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese Army warned that Israel's continued refusal to cooperate with monitoring efforts is undermining the mechanism and could compel the army to suspend its coordination with the U.N. body regarding site inspections.
Despite the mounting challenges, the army stated that it remains determined to fulfill its mission of asserting state authority, preserving national security, and protecting the Lebanese people.
"These responsibilities are a sacred national duty that we will uphold, no matter how great the hardships," the statement concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LBCI
5 hours ago
- LBCI
Late Night News Duration 16:40 Aired Jun 06 2025 Previous Episodes A full recap of the political, security and social news in Lebanon and the world produced in an evening news bulletin at 11:00 PM News Watch now More details about online video viewing packages
A full recap of the political, security and social news in Lebanon and the world produced in an evening news bulletin at 11:00 PM
LBCI
12 hours ago
- LBCI
Israel directly warns Lebanese president as tensions soar after Beirut strikes
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Israel has escalated its threats against Lebanon following airstrikes that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, with Security Minister Israel Katz issuing a direct warning to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, vowing continued attacks and accusing the Lebanese Army of conducting "coordinated displays." Katz reiterated longstanding Israeli claims that Hezbollah is boosting its military capabilities with the Lebanese state's approval, specifically alleging that drone production is underway in residential areas, posing a threat to northern Israeli communities. Israeli security officials and military analysts defended the strikes on Beirut's suburbs, describing them as a "necessary step." The attack has sharpened the divide in Israel over the legitimacy and strategic wisdom of expanding military operations into the Lebanese capital and other regions. The airstrikes followed Israeli military assessments suggesting Hezbollah is preparing for an escalation, with expectations that Lebanon might retaliate. In response, Israel deployed additional air defense systems in the north and announced that its armed forces are fully prepared for a range of scenarios, including extensive defensive measures. Amid growing security concerns, some Israeli officials have expressed skepticism toward the intelligence behind the latest attacks. Doubts over whether Hezbollah is indeed rebuilding its arsenal have led to calls for Israel to submit its intelligence reports to international monitors tasked with overseeing the ceasefire agreement between the two sides. Using Lebanon's alleged failure to uphold the ceasefire agreement as justification, the Israeli military is reportedly considering intensifying its deployment along the northern border, expanding surveillance and reconnaissance operations, and threatening further strikes for every intelligence report suggesting Lebanese violations.
LBCI
14 hours ago
- LBCI
Eid al-Adha under fire: Israel's Beirut strikes seen as signal to Washington
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi A day ahead of Eid al-Adha, Israel launched a series of surprise airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, drawing condemnation from Lebanese political and military leaders who accused Tel Aviv of deliberately undermining regional stability and defying the ceasefire monitoring committee in place since late last year. The escalation began Thursday afternoon when the ceasefire monitoring committee contacted the Lebanese Army, requesting an inspection of alleged Hezbollah military targets in the Mrayjeh neighborhood. The army responded by deploying a unit to the site, which found no evidence of any military activity and provided photographic proof to the committee. Hours later, at 8:30 p.m., Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a public warning, threatening strikes on three locations unrelated to Mrayjeh. The Lebanese Army immediately informed the committee of its intent to inspect the new sites to avert the attack. Despite U.S. intervention urging Israel to hold back, Tel Aviv signaled its intent to strike. A Lebanese military team reached one of the targeted buildings and confirmed it was free of weapons but was forced to retreat after Israel began firing warning shots. The strikes followed soon after. Israel claimed the targets were Hezbollah drone storage facilities, a justification swiftly rejected by Lebanese officials. The Lebanese Army issued a rare warning, threatening to suspend cooperation with the ceasefire monitoring committee over Israel's refusal to coordinate or adhere to the ceasefire agreement. Amid mounting political contacts, the Lebanese presidency issued a sharply worded statement from Baabda Palace during a visit by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. President Joseph Aoun described the assault as a message from Israel to the United States, expressing discontent with Washington's regional policies through what he called "Beirut's mailbox of blood and civilian suffering." The presidency implied Israel was reacting to U.S. positions on Iran, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, using Beirut as a proxy for its frustration. Meanwhile, questions swirled around the outcome of recent talks between U.N. Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Israeli officials. Some Lebanese political circles speculated that Israel could be using these strikes to pressure Lebanon into a security arrangement under fire. Lebanon's leadership reiterated its longstanding stance: peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution, in line with the Arab consensus. Prime Minister Salam is expected to reinforce this position at the United Nations on June 17 during a session focused on the Palestinian issue. According to sources close to the group, Hezbollah believes Israel's broader goal is to sign peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt and create a weapons-free buffer zone stretching from Syria to Lebanon. Observers fear the situation could escalate further, particularly as Lebanon prepares to initiate a process to disarm refugee camps. Some also suggest that Israel's strikes are an attempt to divert attention from internal political turmoil in both the U.S. and Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing domestic pressure.
