Lebanon’s army destroys four unexploded Israeli bombs

Lebanon’s forces have dismantled four unexploded bombs they say were planted by Israeli forces in the south of the country, reports the National News Agency (NNA).

“Specialised army units dismantled four unexploded aerial bombs left behind from the Israeli aggression in the towns of Abba and Harouf (Nabatieh), Burj Shemali (Tyre), and Debbine (Marjayoun),” the Lebanese Army Command-Directorate of Orientation said.

Israeli artillery targets Mount Basil in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting that Israeli forces carried out artillery shelling targeting southern Lebanon’s Mount Basil, situated near the towns of Ramyah and Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil District.

Israel has continued to launch attacks across southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut, despite a ceasefire in place since April 16.

Lebanese president urges US to ‘keep standing’ by country

Lebanon’s president has urged the US to stand by his country after the recent US-backed framework deal with Israel, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah.

In a congratulatory message to Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of US independence, Joseph Aoun urged Washington to “keep always standing beside Lebanon’s right and just causes, its institutions, army and people”.

Aoun expressed hope that Lebanon could “turn the page on wars… and open a new page of hope, peace and stability”.

The Lebanese government’s mission to disarm Hezbollah has raised fears of a renewed civil war, similar to the fighting between 1975 and 1990.

Hezbollah has rejected the framework agreement and refused to lay down its arms.

Death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon rises to 4,303

The Lebanese Health Ministry has said the death toll since March 2 has reached 4,303 killed and 12,202 wounded.

Israel is continuing to strike what it says are Hezbollah positions within Lebanon, despite signing a US-sponsored framework agreement last week.

Israeli army says one killed inside ‘security zone’ in Lebanon

The Israeli military has issued a statement saying it killed one person in the Majdal Zoun area in southern Lebanon, claiming the victim was an “armed terrorist”.

It added that the incident took place inside its so-called “security zone”. Israel has imposed a buffer zone demarcated by the “Yellow Line”, stretching roughly 10km (six miles) north of the Lebanon-Israel border and representing about 6 percent of Lebanese territory.

Lebanon’s social affairs minister says 400,000 displaced people return south

Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayed, said approximately 400,000 displaced people have returned to their homes in southern Lebanon – a fraction of the more than one million displaced by the Israeli offensive.

“The ceasefire remains fragile, but the south has begun to witness the return of a number of displaced people,” the minister said during a tour of Tyre, where she met city authorities.

An appeal will be made to the international community to secure the necessary funds for reconstruction, she added.

Former Lebanese PM blames Hezbollah for Israel negotiation setbacks

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has blamed Hezbollah for the country’s current position in negotiations with Israel.

Siniora said Lebanon’s government was “forced to enter negotiations with Israel as a result of the difficult situation created by Hezbollah”.

“The opposing party in the framework agreement has a well-known record of evasion and failure to abide by agreements.”

Siniora implied that it was in both Israel’s and Hezbollah’s interests for negotiations to fail.

“Both Israel and Hezbollah are stalling and banking on the factor of time regarding what each of them should do. There is a convergence of interests between Hezbollah and Israel, as each party uses the other as a pretext”, Siniora says.

Siniora also criticized the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, saying the fact that it did not include provisions on Israel’s withdrawal was “unacceptable”.

Siniora said it was essential Lebanon was allowed to negotiate with Israel on its own terms and needed an experienced negotiating team to achieve sustainable results.

“We are engaging in negotiations with a mischievous and fierce enemy, and we must not send anyone without experience.”

...“forced to enter negotiations with Israel as a result of the difficult situation created by Hezbollah”.

Trump had forced Netanyahu to engage in the ceasefire talks with the Lebanese government. The Lebanese government and the Israelis excluded Hezbollah from these talks.

Iranian president criticizes international silence over Israeli actions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticized the international community’s failure to stop Israel from attacking multiple countries in the region and for the instability across the Middle East.

Speaking during an event commemorating the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said Iran’s new leadership bears a heavy responsibility to work towards strengthening Islamic unity and expanding solidarity among Muslim states.

Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports that Israeli attacks have hit the towns of al-Mansouri and Tallousah in the last few hours.

These attacks come despite the controversial framework agreement signed late last month by Israel, Lebanon and the US, meant to solidify the shaky ceasefire in place between Israel and Hezbollah.