A protester plants the Lebanese flag along a fence across an Israeli tank during an anti-Israeli demonstration near the "Blue line" area, June 9, 2023. (Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned on Thursday the Israeli attack on Lebanese territory in Kfar Shuba and Mazraat Halta, South Lebanon, which is considered a violation of Resolution 1701 and an assault on Lebanese sovereignty.
On Thursday morning, two rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel, one of them landing in Lebanese territory and the second near a disputed area at the border, three security sources in Lebanon told Reuters. There has been no claim of responsibility for the reported rocket fire.
In response, Israeli forces struck the area the rocket launch was carried out from Thursday morning, the Israeli military said.
More than 15 rockets have been launched toward the village of Kfar Shuba and Mazraat Halta, according to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry also called on "the United Nations and the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop its violations and continuous encroachments (...) of Lebanese lands, airspace and territorial waters."
The Ministry noted "the coincidence of these Israeli violations with [Lebanon's] imminent submission of a request to extend the work of the UNIFIL forces operating in southern Lebanon to the United Nations Security Council." Lebanon renews its "respect for the implementation of all international resolutions, and calls for Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from all the Lebanese territories it still occupies," the ministry added.
Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday met with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, at the Grand Serail. Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Bou Habib and a delegation from UNIFIL's International Forces Command , led by the Commander-in-Chief General Aroldo Lazaro, were also present.
The government coordinator with the international emergency forces, Brigadier General Mounir Shehadeh, also participated.
The tension in the south was discussed during the meeting in light of the recent developments. The UNIFIL commander stressed "the necessity of maintaining stability along the Blue Line and respecting UN Resolution 1701."
Mikati affirmed "Lebanon's commitment to Resolution 1701," calling on "the United Nations to work to stop the Israeli violations, which amounted to 18 violations in the recent period of the Blue Line."
The exchange of fire happened after Israel seized the Lebanese part of Ghajar over the weekend, further heightening border tensions.
Located along the border between Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Ghajar, a Alawite-majority village which the Blue Line crosses, was completely cut off from Lebanon after the Israeli army erected a fence to its north, in violation of Resolution 1701.
Hezbollah on Thursday called on the Lebanese government and people to act against Israeli violations in Ghajar.