Israel Resumes Airstrikes North of Litani Amid Hezbollah Disarmament Talks
Israel has resumed heavy airstrikes north of the Litani river amid discussions among Lebanese leaders on a possible agreement to disarm Hezbollah.
President Joseph Aoun met on Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri at the Baabda Palace. Berri described the talks as "excellent” without giving further details.
Aoun also held Friday a security meeting with the Minister of Defense, the Army Commander, and the Intelligence chief to discuss the security situation in the country, mainly in south Lebanon as Israel continues to carry out attacks that hinder the deployment of the Lebanese army.
The officials also discussed the disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which are set to start in mid-June in three Beirut camps.
For the first time in three weeks, Israel carried out more than a dozen airstrikes overnight Thursday to Friday in south and east Lebanon, in areas lying north of the Litani river.
The Israeli army said it targeted “several military sites and terrorist infrastructure belonging to ... Hezbollah across Lebanon.”
“Among the targets was terrorist infrastructure containing combat equipment in the Sidon area, which had recently witnessed Hezbollah attempts to rebuild after it had been bombed in the past,” the Israeli army said.
It added that Israel will “continue to operate to eliminate any threat” and “prevent any attempt by ... Hezbollah to establish itself.”
The escalation came as Lebanese officials hold talks to limit illegitimate arms to state control, an issue that is set to be discussed by US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who is set to visit Beirut next week.
Development and Liberation bloc MP Michel Moussa told a local radio station that the authorities haven’t been informed yet about the timing of the visit or the agenda of her meetings.
“Ortagus is scheduled to follow up on discussions on major issues such as the implementation of Resolution 1701, reforms and the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate by the UN Security Council next August,” Moussa said.
aawsat.com