Lebanon-Israel clashes spark fears as strikes hit Ghazieh near Sidon
Lebanon-Israel clashes spark fears as strikes hit Ghazieh near Sidon
Lebanon's president condemns fresh Israeli strikes amid renewed tensions ahead of a multinational ceasefire review and disarmament talks.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, saying they undermine efforts to prevent escalation. The strikes followed a day of aerial raids in southern and eastern Lebanon, with Israel saying it hit Hezbollah and Hamas targets. Across several villages hit after evacuation warnings, a strike in the early hours of Tuesday hit Ghazieh near Sidon, destroying a building and sparking a fire that firefighters rushed to control.
Israel has said its operations targeted weapon storage facilities and military structures belonging to Hezbollah and Hamas in multiple areas in Lebanon, and the attacks come as the region grapples with renewed tensions despite a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. A ceasefire monitoring committee comprising the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations is set to meet, while Lebanon's cabinet plans to discuss disarming Hezbollah under pressure from Washington and amid fears of broader Israeli escalation.
Residents and rescuers continued to assess damage as the international community calls for restraint. The strikes underscore how fragile the existing arrangements are and the challenges facing efforts to keep the region from sliding into broader confrontation.
