UN rapporteur denounces rising Israeli strikes on Lebanon
A UN expert has warned Israeli air strikes on Lebanon are undermining ceasefire efforts and may amount to war crimes citing repeated deadly attacks on civilians in populated areas.
Morris Tidball-Binz, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, condemned Israel’s renewed strikes, pointing to the deadly attack on the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon on Tueaday, and other assaults across the country.
“This is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of lethal strikes in populated areas by Israel, and of total disregard for the ceasefire and for Lebanese peace efforts,” said Tidball-Binz.
The Ein el-Hilweh attack followed near-daily strikes despite the ceasefire with Lebanon and Hezbollah, describing repeated attacks on civilians as “war crimes and a violation of the UN Charter”. “These incidents form part of a broader pattern of unlawful killings and violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel,” Tidball-Binz noted.
Israeli strike kills 1 in south Lebanon as ceasefire breaches go on
One person has been killed in an Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon in the latest deadly violation of last year’s ceasefire agreement. The official National News Agency reported the attack targeted a vehicle on the outskirts of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district, without providing further details.
On Friday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said 331 people have been killed and 945 wounded by Israeli fire since the ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect on November 27, 2024. On Thursday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it recorded more than 10,000 air and ground violations by Israel inside Lebanese territory since the ceasefire began.
UN denounces latest Israeli ‘threats’ to peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations says it is concerned about several incidents this week involving the Israeli military taking threatening actions against peacekeepers on patrol in southern Lebanon.
Israeli soldiers pointed a laser at UNIFIL peacekeeping troops and small arms fire was discharged from their positions targeting a patrol near Kfarchouba, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“We reiterate that the parties must ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel, and all peacekeepers everywhere, at all times. We urge the parties to use the established liaison and coordination mechanisms of UNIFIL to avoid misunderstandings and potential accidents,” Dujarric said.
In September, Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel in “of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November,” it said.
The UN does a lot of criticizing, denouncing and condemning, yet no actions.
Lebanon president says army ready to take over Israel-held positions
Ensuring state control over weapons and decisions of war and peace is “important and inevitable”, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said in a speech on the eve of the country’s independence day.
Aoun made the speech from southern Lebanon, where Israel still maintains troops in five areas it deems “strategic”.
“I confirm the army is ready to take over positions immediately after Israel ceases all attacks and violations and after Israel withdraws from positions inside Lebanon at the border,” said Aoun.
He said Lebanon is ready to entrust the truce supervisory committee – comprising the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and United Nations peacekeepers – with “making sure that in the south Litani region, only the Lebanese army is exerting its sovereignty by its own means”.
Lebanon is ready to negotiate under US or international sponsorship “any agreement which will put a permanent end to the transborder aggressions”, he added.
