Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speaking to a meeting of foreign ambassdors Friday, emphasized that Lebanon did not choose to enter this current war but has been pulled into the sharp escalation of violence which began with Hezbollah rocket launches Sunday, following U.S.-Israeli attacks in Iran.
Echoing previous comments on the urgency of Hezbollah disarmament, Salam stressed that the decision on war and peace “must remain in the hands of the state.”
He added that the government continues to work with various international partners to halt what he described as Israeli aggression. Salam also reaffirmed Lebanon’s willingness to negotiate, emphasizing the need to spare infrastructure and property from further damage amid the ongoing escalation.
Meanwhile, massive Israeli raids continued Friday on the southern suburbs of Beirut following a tense night of bombardment. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 123 people have been killed and 683 others injured since Thursday night.
Separately, an Israeli strike targetting a Hamas-affiliated apartment in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon killed five people on Friday.
Overnight from Thursday to Friday, the southern suburbs of Beirut witnessed intense bombardment as Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes. The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement tallying the total number of raids at 26.
The strikes targeted several areas across the southern suburbs, including Jamous near Hashem Station, Musharrafieh, Haret Hreik near Al-Sahel Hospital, Maamoura near Croissant al-Duha, Kafaat, the vicinity of Bajour Street in Burj al-Barajneh, and Haret Hreik toward the entrance of Burj al-Barajneh and the Sayyed Hadi Nasrallah Highway.
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