Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on August 12 condemned Israeli 'attacks, incursions, demolitions and the systematic destruction of homes,' infrastructure, government buildings and places of worship in southern Lebanon as violations of international law and international humanitarian law, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited the area the same day and said the Israeli military was 'destroying the underground infrastructure' and 'destroying all the houses' in what he called a security zone.
Lebanese PM condemns Israeli demolitions in south as violation of international law; Israeli defence minister says military is destroying houses
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on August 12 condemned Israeli 'attacks, incursions, demolitions and the systematic destruction of homes,' infrastructure, government buildings and places of worship in southern Lebanon as violations of international law and international humanitarian law, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited the area the same day and said the Israeli military was 'destroying the underground infrastructure' and 'destroying all the houses' in what he called a security zone.
Katz also vowed to keep Israeli troops in the southern Lebanese area he described as a security zone, according to the source report.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East conflict in March by attacking Israel, which responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people.
A framework deal reached in late June between Lebanon and Israel calls for the disarmament of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, beginning in designated 'pilot zones.' The deal followed a US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed the same month.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported on August 12 that Israeli troops carried out detonations in southern villages, including Zawtar al-Shariqya, which borders one of the pilot zones. Lebanon's army said Israel had blown up the municipal building in Zawtar al-Shariqya, as well as a public school, a health clinic, a children's nursery, and a number of homes.
Also on August 12, Lebanon's army chief Rodolphe Haykal met visiting US General Joseph Clearfield, who heads a coordination group involved with the June agreement. The Lebanese military said the two discussed 'developments in the south and security arrangements' as well as 'the difficulties the army faces in carrying out its missions, primarily due to the continuing attacks, bulldozing and destruction by the Israeli occupation.' Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also met with Clearfield to discuss implementation of the framework deal.
Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold an eighth round of US-sponsored negotiations in Rome in September.
- Israel's official response to the Lebanese government's characterisation of the demolitions as violations of international law is not included.
- The total number of structures demolished in southern Lebanon since the June framework deal was signed is not specified.
- Details of what the June framework deal requires of each party on specific timelines are not fully set out.
- The content or outcome of the meeting between President Aoun and General Clearfield beyond a general reference to the framework deal is not reported.
- Hezbollah's position on the ongoing demolitions and on the framework deal's disarmament provisions is not included.
Read the original at The Straits Times