President Joseph Aoun says Lebanon should not be used as a launchpad for instability or be dragged into pointless wars.
Lebanon’s high safety physique has warned the Palestinian group Hamas towards utilizing the nation’s territory for acts that might undermine nationwide safety, after rocket hearth in direction of Israel led to counterstrikes.
The Larger Defence Council issued the warning on Friday as Lebanon faces rising United States strain to disarm teams outdoors state management, following a 14-month struggle between Israel and the armed Lebanese group Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas.
Lebanese authorities are additionally making an attempt to determine their authority all through the nation, notably within the south close to the border with Israel.
Israel has violated the US-brokered November 2024 truce settlement on a near-daily foundation, in keeping with Lebanese authorities, together with three air assaults on the capital Beirut.
In a press release, the council headed by President Joseph Aoun mentioned Lebanon should not be used as a launchpad for instability or be dragged into pointless wars.
It added that “the utmost measures and needed procedures shall be taken to place a definitive finish to any act that violates Lebanese sovereignty.”
Aoun, who beforehand served as military commander, has pledged to carry all weapons within the nation underneath the state’s authority, however has admitted that disarming Hezbollah, which the US has been pressuring Lebanon to do, is a “delicate” matter.
Mohammad al-Mustafa, secretary-general of the council, informed reporters on Friday that whereas Aoun highlighted the significance of Palestinian rights, he additionally burdened that Lebanese stability shouldn’t be compromised.
Hamas has a longstanding presence inside Lebanon, together with in camps throughout the nation that host a whole lot of 1000’s of longtime Palestinian refugees, and the place Lebanese safety forces have lengthy had solely restricted authority.
Together with Hezbollah, Hamas fighters in Lebanon fired rockets throughout the southern border into Israel in solidarity with Palestinians after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, when Israel started an enormous bombardment marketing campaign in Gaza.
Since then, Israeli air assaults have killed a number of Hamas commanders in Lebanon, together with the group’s deputy chief in early 2024.
Israel has cited safety considerations for its continued lethal raids on Lebanon, regardless of the ceasefire.
In a bid to deal with the considerations of Israel and the US, which brokered the ceasefire, the Lebanese military arrested Lebanese and Palestinian people accused of firing rockets in direction of Israel on March 22 and March 28.
No group claimed accountability for the assaults, and Hezbollah has denied any involvement.
However a Lebanese safety supply informed the AFP information company that safety forces arrested three Hamas members.
The council mentioned authorized proceedings would start early subsequent week towards these detained over the rocket hearth in March.
