Israeli arrogance in Lebanon

 

Iran condemns Israel after its fighter jets fly over Nasrallah’s funeral in Beirut

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israel for its deployment of fighter jets over the Lebanese capital Beirut at a low altitude during the funeral ceremony of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday, describing it as "an act of terror."

Araghchi was part of a top Iranian delegation that attended the funeral of Nasrallah along with thousands of mourners.

"I also witnessed, with my own eyes, the violation of Lebanon's sovereignty by Israeli jets that flew close above our heads, in a pitiful attempt to terrify people who gathered only to mourn," Araghchi wrote on his X account.

"If that is not an act of terror, then what is?”

"The violation only emboldened people in the stadium to shout against Israel even stronger and louder. Israelis never learn their lesson," he added.

Nasrallah was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Sept. 27, 2024. 

A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply.

The Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanese towns last week but maintained a military presence at five border outposts.

Two killed, three injured in Israeli aggression on Janta, east Lebanon

 The Israeli airstrike targeted Janta, in a continuation of "Israel's" ceasefire breaches.

Two people were killed and three others were injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting Lebanon's eastern mountain range, the Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said in a statement. 

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Bekaa confirmed that an Israeli drone raid targeted the surrounding hilltops of the town of Janta in the eastern range today, Tuesday.

Israeli occupation forces continue to breach the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and "Israel". Israeli troops launched flare bombs over the town of Alma al-Shaab, which caused a fire as one made an impact, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon.

Lebanon calls US to force full Israeli withdrawal

Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun urged a US congressional delegation on February 21 to pressure "Israel" to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon, following "Israel's" partial withdrawal on February 18, occupying 5 strategic points on Lebanon's borders.

Upon its withdrawal, Israeli forces announced that they would "stay in 5 strategic points" along the border in Lebanon so they can "continue to defend our residents and to make sure there's no immediate threat," according to Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani.

The Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi described the Israeli Occupation Forces' stay in these 5 points as a mistake akin to the mistakes they committed in the past, when "Israel" created two "security belts" that quickly became death traps for Israeli soldiers.

Ashkenazi pointed out that "Israel" bled for 18 years in Lebanon with no real goal, asserting that creating outposts in the positions the IOF left 25 years ago is a mistake, as "many mothers and fathers will be crying," adding that there is no logic behind maintaining the positions in South Lebanon.

"Israel" has violated the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon thousands of times, bombing areas as far as Bekaa, north of the Litani River, and demolishing civilian houses in Lebanese border towns, and even setting homes on fire only 3 days before the February 18 withdrawal deadline.