Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib directed the Lebanese permanent mission to the United Nations today, Friday, to file a complaint with the UN Security Council following an Israeli attack on a residential area in the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut. According to the National News Agency, the complaint stated that this attack represents the most serious chapter in the series of Israeli assaults on Lebanon.
The complaint clarified that this attack marked a first-of-its-kind escalation since 2006, as it targeted a densely populated residential area in the suburbs of Beirut this time. It constitutes a blatant Israeli violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, its citizens, and civil aviation, raising concerns as it may lead to an expansion of the conflict and destabilize regional peace and security.
Lebanon has once again requested the UN Security Council to condemn this attack and pressure Israel to stop the escalation. Lebanon also called for “taking all necessary measures to stop the Israeli aggressions on its land and people, to prevent exacerbating the conflict and dragging the entire region into a comprehensive and destructive war that would be difficult to contain.”
It was reported by “Sputnik” correspondent last Tuesday that a powerful explosion occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut in Lebanon, caused by an Israeli drone in the Mushrif area, resulting in the death of the Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri.
In response to the assassination of al-Arouri, Hezbollah’s leadership has expressed a strong stance against the Israeli actions but has also indicated a desire to avoid a major escalation. There is a general belief among many in Lebanon that Hezbollah will respond within certain rules of engagement to avoid provoking a major Israeli response, and there is a preference among most Lebanese to avoid an all-out war
Previously, the Israeli military has also conducted attacks on Hezbollah military infrastructure and observation devices in southern Lebanon, specifically targeting the village of Yaroun in the Nabatieh governorate. These attacks have led to a series of responses from Hezbollah, with fears of an escalation into a broader conflict. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, there have been ongoing clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border, resulting in significant casualties, including the deaths of Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah members.
