Lebanon’s president tells US official Israeli occupation in remaining points must end
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has told US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz that it is necessary to end the Israeli occupation in the remaining points and complete the implementation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Israeli troops withdrew yesterday from most of south Lebanon but Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would temporarily remain in five points needed for its security.
The Lebanese presidency said that Lebanon would consider any remaining Israeli presence on Lebanese land an occupation.
Israel had been due to withdraw by January 26, but this was extended to February 18 after it accused Lebanon of failing to enforce the terms. Lebanon at the time accused Israel of delaying its withdrawal.
Israeli drone attack on vehicle kills 1 in southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone attack on a vehicle in the southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab near the border with Israel has killed one person.
Lebanon’s National News Agency confirmed the killing and also reported that at least two people were wounded separately in the town of Wazzani after Israeli soldiers opened fire.
Lebanese sources did not immediately confirm the identity of the deceased, but Israeli Army Radio, quoting security sources, said the target was a Hezbollah member. The man, reported to be the son of the mayor of the town, was driving his car near the border when the attack took place. His wife was seriously injured in the attack.
Sanad, Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, identified the victim as Yusuf Mohammed Sorour, the son of the mayor of the town, targeted while he was sitting in his car in front of his home.
Several Israelis illegally cross into Lebanon: Report
The Times of Israel newspaper, citing police, says several Israelis illegally crossed the border into Lebanon overnight, and some of them threw rocks at Israeli troops who arrived on the scene.
Police officials said some of those were arrested, and the remaining suspects returned to Israel by the army, according to the daily.
It said it was the second such incident this week, with about 20 ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis illegally entering Lebanon overnight on Sunday.
The group was reportedly attempting to reach the tomb of Rav Ashi, a fourth-century Babylonian scholar.
Israeli army says it killed Hezbollah fighter near border
A fighter jet eliminated a “Hezbollah military operative” in southern Lebanon, the military says.
The target was “identified as dealing with weapons”, it added. The strike took place a day after the deadline for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon expired.
The pullout was part of a ceasefire deal signed between Hezbollah and Israel in late November that brought an end to more than a year of cross-border hostilities, including a two-month full-out war.
Despite the deadline, Israel decided to keep troops in five locations on Lebanese territory, raising fears it is planning a new long-term occupation.
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