BEIRUT, Jan. 6 — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday condemned Israeli attacks that targeted several towns and villages in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon over the past hours, extending as far as the coastal city of Sidon.
Aoun said the timing of the attacks raises serious questions, as they occurred on the eve of a meeting of the committee overseeing the ceasefire mechanism in southern Lebanon, which is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to work toward halting hostilities and discussing practical measures to restore security and stability in southern Lebanon.
He noted that these measures include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the southern border, the release of Lebanese detainees, and the completion of the deployment of the Lebanese army in implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
The Lebanese president said that Israel’s continued attacks are intended to undermine all efforts being made at local, regional and international levels to contain the ongoing escalation of Israeli actions, despite Lebanon’s positive engagement with these efforts on various fronts.
Aoun renewed his call on the international community to intervene effectively to put an end to Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon and to enable the mechanism committee to carry out its mandated tasks through consensus among the concerned parties and with international support. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
