The President of Lebanon said that today's Israeli attacks on the south and east of the country caused about 20 deaths and harm the efforts to "consolidate the ceasefire."
"What we witnessed today in the south and the Bekaa Valley (to the east), with the intensification of Israeli attacks and the increase in the number of dead and destruction, constitutes a dangerous and condemnable escalation," Joseph Aoun said on social network X.
Especially because "it undermines all ongoing efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and end the war, particularly after the recent events between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran," the leader stressed, referring to the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday by Washington and Tehran.
The signed agreement stipulates a cessation of hostilities, including on the Lebanese front.
Nevertheless, Aoun clarified that the continuation of Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory "will not stop efforts to achieve a full ceasefire as soon as possible."
The President of Lebanon specified that this was the position he conveyed to the Lebanese negotiating delegation, which will be involved next week in new talks with Israel in Washington.
It will be the fifth round of direct negotiations between the two countries.
"There can be no leniency in this matter, because a full ceasefire is the gateway to addressing other issues, the most important of which are the Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the army, and the release of prisoners," he concluded.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that last night's Israeli attacks killed 18 people and wounded 33 others, according to a preliminary count, although later three more deaths were recorded due to another Israeli army bombing in the Bekaa region, targeting a supposed infrastructure of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah.
These bombings occur after Hezbollah claimed two attacks against Israeli troops trying to advance in southern Lebanon, as part of its invasion of this Mediterranean country, which caused the death of four Israeli soldiers due to an explosive drone from the Lebanese armed group.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed today that Israeli troops will not abandon the occupied territories in southern Lebanon and will remain there as long as necessary.
The Israeli army announced today the death of four of its soldiers in operations in southern Lebanon, the first Israeli losses since the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
Hezbollah then promised to defend the country in the face of the intensification of clashes.
In a statement, the Iran-backed movement blamed Israel for the deterioration of the security situation, alleging that the Israeli state "never respected any ceasefire agreement" since the end of 2024.
Lebanon was dragged by Hezbollah into the war in the region when it resumed airstrikes against Israeli territory in early March.
Israel responded with intensive bombings and expanded the military positions it already held in the south of the neighboring country during the previous conflict.
