Lebanon PM calls for 'ceasefire', as Israel masses tanks on the border

LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

LEBANON’S PRIME MINISTER has called for a ceasefire between his country and Israel, as Israeli fighter jets continue to bomb the capital Beirut, and tanks amass across the southern border.

In a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held in Beirut, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that and end to “Israeli aggression” was key to “revive the appeal launched by the United States and France in favour of a ceasefire”.

He added that the “priority is applying resolution 1701″ of the United Nations Security Council, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Barrot’s visit came as Israel carried out a deadly strike on central Beirut. So far, attacks have been confined to the south of the city, and on the south and east of the country, where Hezbollah’s strength is concentrated.

As the meeting took place, Israeli soldiers were being deployed along the country’s northern border with Lebanon.

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that Friday’s assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was “not the final step”.

“The Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not the final one. In order to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities, we will employ all of our capabilities, and this includes you,” Gallant told soldiers deployed to the northern border.

Today also marked the first death of a member of Lebanon’s armed forces since the conflict escalated. The soldier was killed when he was struck by shrapnel after an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle allegedly carrying two Syrian nationals at a checkpoint in south Lebanon.

‘Ready for any ground confrontation’

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem has said that his group is “ready for any ground confrontation” with Israel.

Speaking today, Qassem said Hezbollah would choose a new chief “at the earliest opportunity”, to replace long-time Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

“We will select a new secretary-general for the party at the earliest opportunity,” Qassem said in a speech broadcast by Hezbollah’s Al-Manar channel, the first address by a senior group leader since Nasrallah’s death.

He did not say when the selection would take place, or when Nasrallah’s funeral would be held.

Qassem said Hezbollah would continue “confronting the Israeli enemy in support of Gaza and Palestine, in defence of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the assassinations and the killing of civilians”.

“We will face any scenario and we are ready if Israel decides to enter by land, the resistance forces are ready for any ground confrontation,” he added.

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Separately, Iran’s foreign ministry has said it will not deploy forces to Lebanon or Gaza to confront Israel.

“There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, adding that Lebanon and fighters in the Palestinian territories “have the capability and strength to defend themselves against the aggression.”

Hamas leader in Lebanon ‘eliminated’

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has confirmed its forces “eliminated” Hamas’s leader in Lebanon in the latest strike targeting senior members of Iranian-backed militant groups in the neighbouring country.

In a statement, it said the IAF (air force) “struck and eliminated the terrorist Fatah Sherif, head of the Lebanon branch in the Hamas terrorist organisation” in the overnight strike on the south of the country. 

Fatah Sharif Abu al-Amine “was responsible for coordinating Hamas’ terror activities in Lebanon with Hezbollah operatives. He was also responsible for Hamas’ efforts in Lebanon to recruit operatives and acquire weapons,” the statement said.

Hamas had earlier confirmed that Sharif had been killed in the strike, which it said was on his home in the Al-Bass camp in south Lebanon.

The group said he was killed with his wife, son and daughter in a “terrorist and criminal assassination”.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported an air strike on Al-Bass near the city of Tyre, saying it was the “first time” the camp had been targeted.

The statement came hours after the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a secular left-wing group, said three of its members were killed in a strike on Beirut’s Kola district early Monday.

Israel has repeatedly targeted Hamas officials in Lebanon since the current conflict in Gaza erupted almost a year ago.

A strike in January, which a US defence official said was carried out by Israel, killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri and six other militants in Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold.

In August, an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the south Lebanon city of Sidon killed Hamas commander Samer al-Hajj.

Lebanon’s official Palestinian refugee camps were created for Palestinians who were driven out or fled during the 1948 war at the time of Israel’s creation.

By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army stays out of the camps and leaves the Palestinian factions to handle security.

With reporting from © AFP 2024 

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