Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns Israeli strikes, saying they undermine local and international efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel’s latest strikes on his country.
He said the attacks undermine efforts to prevent further escalation.
Aoun’s criticism followed Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday.
Israel said it targeted Hezbollah and Hamas infrastructure.
The initial strikes hit four villages where Israel had issued evacuation warnings.
Later bombings, including one early on Tuesday, occurred without prior notice.
“Israel’s continued attacks aim to thwart all efforts made locally, regionally and internationally to stop the ongoing Israeli escalation,” Aoun said in a statement.
He added this was despite Lebanon’s demonstrated response to these efforts.
Despite a year-old ceasefire, Israel has carried out frequent strikes on Lebanon.
It usually says it is targeting Hezbollah sites and occasionally Hamas targets.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military said its operations struck infrastructure belonging to both groups.
It said the targets included several weapon storage facilities and military structures.
A strike early on Tuesday targeted Ghazieh, near the coastal city of Sidon.
An AFP photographer reported it destroyed a building and caused a fire.
The latest strikes come ahead of a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee on Wednesday.
The committee includes the US, France, Lebanon, Israel and the UN.
Lebanon’s cabinet will also convene later this week.
It will discuss the army’s progress in disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River.
The disarmament plan was launched under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes.
The army was expected to complete this phase by the end of 2025.
Aoun said the government’s plan was being implemented by the army “with professionalism, commitment and precision”.
Israel has previously questioned the Lebanese military’s effectiveness and accused Hezbollah of rearming.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday called the disarmament efforts far from sufficient.
