At least four people died and others were injured this Sunday (6) in Israeli air strikes against different locations in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. In Arab Salim, two women died and six people were injured following an attack carried out after Israeli forces issued a forced displacement order on a building in the city. Lebanon’s Health Ministry also reported two deaths in an attack on Nabatieh al-Fawqa. In the city of Nabatieh, shelling also destroyed a historic building and damaged nearby buildings. Other attacks hit Kfar Reman and an area housing a municipal park in Nabatieh.
Israel said the actions were carried out in response to Hezbollah’s launch of two drones against its forces in southern Lebanon, calling the group’s action a “blatant violation.” Since March, when Hezbollah attacked Israel during the war between the United States and Iran, Israel has maintained air and ground operations in Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, more than 4,300 people have died since then. Israeli forces remain positioned in a self-declared security area that extends approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Despite the reduction in the number of attacks following a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran in June, Israel continues to carry out bombings, artillery fire and demolitions of civilian buildings in southern Lebanon. Last week, Israel also announced that it had taken “operational control” of the strategic elevation of Ali al-Taher, near Nabatieh.
At the same time, Israel is considering repositioning part of its troops closer to the border. According to the Israeli public broadcaster Canthe Armed Forces are considering retreating three to four kilometers and establishing new posts along a so-called “Gray Line”. The plan, however, has not yet been approved by the Israeli political leadership and the transfer of the unoccupied areas to the Lebanese Army remains undefined.
Negotiations
The military scenario takes place in parallel with negotiations between Lebanon, Israel and the United States. Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said Israel’s release of Lebanese prisoners could indicate pressure from the United States for Tel Aviv to adopt a more flexible stance in negotiations. According to Mitri, a new round of talks could take place in the middle of this month or a few days later. The Lebanese government, he stated, seeks to keep its negotiating front separate from negotiations between Washington and Tehran, although it recognizes that the developments in the dialogue between the two countries directly affect the situation in Lebanon.
Mitri also stated that the stalled negotiations make it difficult for displaced residents to return and reduce international support for reconstruction efforts. The deputy prime minister noted that the country has drawn up a recovery plan and received pledges from several countries to help facilitate the return of residents and the rehabilitation of affected areas.
Hezbollah, in turn, condemned the Israeli military campaign and accused Israel of acting with “international silence” and “American complicity”. The group also reiterated its opposition to direct negotiations between Beirut and Israel. The information is from Al Jazeera.
*With information from the Lebanese news agency NNA and Al Jazeera.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
