BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam publicly criticized Hezbollah on Thursday for its continued refusal to disarm, asserting that this stance is adversely affecting the Lebanese populace as the country strives to recuperate from the devastation inflicted by the group's conflict with Israel last year. This unprecedented criticism from Salam comes in the wake of intensified pressure from the United States and Israel on Lebanon’s government to disarm the militant organization.
In recent developments, Israeli forces executed a series of airstrikes targeting suspected Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Israel has accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military arsenal following a ceasefire that was established a year ago, bringing an end to months of intense fighting. Despite this ceasefire, Israeli forces maintain control over parts of southern Lebanon and have notably escalated airstrikes. These actions occurred as Israel claims that Hezbollah's armaments have failed to deter any attacks, undermining the group's assertion that its military capabilities protect the Lebanese people and its own leadership.
During a press briefing carried by the state-run National News Agency, Prime Minister Salam articulated that the claimed deterrence of Hezbollah's weapons has not been effective, as Israel continues its attacks without hesitation. “Hezbollah says its weapons are deterring an aggression. Deterrence means preventing the enemy from carrying out an aggression, but it (Israel) is attacking and the weapons are not deterring it,” Salam contended.
The Israeli military's latest airstrikes occurred just before the anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon, where he is set to engage with various political and religious figures in the crisis-stricken nation. However, it has been confirmed that the pope will not travel to southern Lebanon, which experienced significant damage during the intense Israel-Hezbollah conflict that lasted for 14 months.
Simultaneously, violence has escalated in the West Bank, particularly in the northeastern region of Tubas, where Israeli forces have detained at least 119 individuals beginning on Tuesday. Palestinian advocacy groups report that some detainees have been reportedly subjected to severe beatings, and although the Israeli military has not responded to these allegations directly, it claims that the operations are aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds and preventing the establishment of terror infrastructures.
Israeli airstrikes in Tubas were confirmed to have been carried out by military helicopters, effectively cutting off the region as ground forces established control. This crackdown in the West Bank follows a significant escalation of military actions initiated by Israel after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which has dramatically altered the security landscape in both Gaza and the West Bank. Israeli authorities assert their operations are focused on militant threats; however, human rights organizations and Palestinian health officials contend that numerous civilians are among those harmed during these operations.
The current escalation also coincides with growing reports of violence from Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. While Israeli officials downplay these incidents as the acts of a minority, affected Palestinian communities argue that such attacks are common and often occur with the apparent complicity of Israeli forces, who seldom hold perpetrators accountable.
In summary, the situation in Lebanon remains tense with escalating tensions between the Lebanese government, Hezbollah, and Israeli forces. The pressure to disarm Hezbollah represents a significant challenge for Salam’s administration, particularly as regional unrest poses ongoing risks to stability.
