Lebanese Armed Forces Enhance Presence Amid Ongoing Israeli Ceasefire Breaches
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Beirut, Dec 6 (NationPress) The Lebanese Armed Forces are actively increasing their presence in southern Lebanon as they commence the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Army Command indicated that the Lebanese military is deploying in southern Lebanon in accordance with UN Resolution 1701, following the recent Israeli "aggression" against Lebanon, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Army Command further noted that it is collaborating with relevant authorities to confront the "ongoing violations" by the Israeli army while ensuring its presence along the northern and eastern borders to prepare for any emergencies during this critical period, which necessitates cooperation from all parties in the national interest.
As reported by the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), Israel continued to breach the ceasefire on Thursday.
Israeli artillery reportedly targeted the main road in the town of Ain Arab in southern Lebanon and shelled Lebanese Civil Defence teams engaged in clearing rubble in Naqoura while searching for victims.
Additionally, Israeli forces allegedly detonated a booby-trapped drone near the civil defence teams, compelling them to withdraw, according to the NNA.
Moreover, the Israeli army reportedly demolished houses in the Horsh area of Yaroun village in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon.
On the same day, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met in Beirut with Guillaume Ponchin, head of the French military delegation from the five-member committee assigned to monitor the ceasefire.
During the meeting, Mikati stressed that Lebanon's priorities encompass ensuring the ceasefire, addressing Israeli violations, securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and enhancing the Lebanese army's deployment in the south.
Ponchin urged all parties to "respect the ceasefire agreement in the long term and to refrain from any actions that could threaten it," as stated by the French embassy in Lebanon.
In a separate meeting at the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, Mikati remarked that disarming Hezbollah would necessitate a national consensus.
"We seek to achieve long-term stability, where the state alone serves as the authority, the army assumes full control on the ground, and we collectively work to protect it," Mikati stated.
On Monday, Hezbollah took responsibility for a mortar attack on Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon's Kfarchouba hills.
The Lebanese armed group claimed the attack was a reaction to "repeated Israeli violations" of the ceasefire agreement mediated by the US and France, which took effect on November 27 and aimed to put an end to nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Mikati stated on Wednesday that Israel has breached the agreement more than 60 times.
