Lebanese leaders condemn latest Israeli attacks in country's south

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel today of breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty amid Israeli attacks in the south of the country, which he said involved explosions, shelling and “systematic destruction.”

The ongoing attacks constitute a “clear violation of the ceasefire, as well as a blatant breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security and of the principles and rules of international law,” Salam posted on X.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the Israeli military had destroyed tunnels in the Beaufort area of southern Lebanon using about 700 tons of explosives.

The statement alleged that the underground infrastructure was central to a plan by Hezbollah to invade communities in northern Israel. It added that the operation followed what Israel described as Hezbollah’s “blatant violation” of a ceasefire agreement one day earlier, but provided no further details.

In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the operation, as well as the “severe damage and serious repercussions (the Israeli military) are causing across most villages in southern Lebanon, threatening the safety and security of civilians,” the president’s office said in a statement.

Both Lebanese leaders also drew attention to the impact of the latest Israeli attacks on UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country’s south.

-CNN