Hezbollah denies ‘any link’ to rocket launches from South Lebanon
Lebanon’s Hezbollah denied having “any link” to rocket launches from southern Lebanon on Saturday and reiterated its commitment to the U.S.-backed ceasefire.
The Zionist occupation’s artillery and airstrikes hit southern Lebanon after claiming on Saturday that it intercepted three rockets launched from the area.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported a spate of “Israeli” airstrikes and artillery barrages in the country’s south, including border towns and hilltops around eight km inside Lebanese territory.
Two people were killed and eight wounded by the airstrikes in the south near the border, the state news agency NNA said, quoting Lebanon’s health ministry.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned “attempts to once again drag Lebanon into the cycle of violence,” and ordered the Lebanese army to secure “any violation” that could threaten stability in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned of the “dire consequences” of renewed military activity on Lebanon’s southern border, urging international pressure on “Israel” to fully withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.
Andrea Tenenti, the official spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), expressed deep concern over the potential escalation of violence.
“Any further escalation of this volatile situation could have serious consequences for the region,” he said.
Under the ceasefire deal, the Zionist occupation was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after “Israel” refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.
It is noteworthy that the Lebanese authorities had previously reported nearly 1,100 “Israeli” violations of the ceasefire, which killed at least 85 people and injured more than 280.
