Information Minister Paul Morcos announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has instructed Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji to summon the necessary diplomats from the Iranian Embassy following a statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claiming a joint military operation with Hezbollah against Israel.
Earlier Thursday, the IRGC claimed responsibility for a joint five-hour military operation carried out with Hezbollah, on Wednesday, against Israel. In a statement, the Iranian force said it fired a “mix of ballistic missiles,” while Hezbollah launched what it described as attack drones and missiles.
The IRGC said the strikes targeted more than 50 sites across Israel, describing the operation as a “coordinated and integrated attack” that dealt “painful blows” to Israeli military bases from Haifa in the north to Tel Aviv in central Israel and Beersheba in the south.
Reading the Cabinet’s decisions after its meeting, Morcos said Salam reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war and expressed gratitude to countries that have sent humanitarian aid.
Morcos also noted that the Cabinet discussed the issue of incitement, quoting Salam as saying that Lebanon “stands against oppression but also rejects strife in any form.”
The information minister further revealed that authorities are stressing the importance of verifying the identities of hotel guests amid the current security situation. He added that 592 shelters have opened their doors to people displaced by the conflict.
“There is no need for any displaced person to remain on the streets,” Morcos said, noting that 36 centers are currently available to host those affected, in addition to the capacity of Beirut’s Sports City. “If necessary, another 100 centers can be activated,” he clarified.
Morcos concluded by saying that the prime minister issued an urgent humanitarian appeal for international assistance while thanking countries that have supported Lebanon during the ongoing crisis.
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