Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Hezbollah’s military activities as “illegal” following the group’s recent attack on Israel from Lebanon. He stated that Hezbollah’s operations should be limited to political roles and called for security forces to prevent attacks from Lebanese territory. This announcement came after Israel conducted air raids in response to rocket and drone strikes attributed to Iranian-linked militants, resulting in casualties in Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed their attack was retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and framed it as a defense of Lebanon against Israeli aggression. The Israeli military reported that these strikes included targeting Hezbollah’s alleged intelligence chief, Hussein Makled.
Under pressure from the U.S. and Israel, the Lebanese government has discussed disarming Hezbollah, though the group views the plan skeptically. Salam criticized the attack as reckless, stating it jeopardizes Lebanese security and gives Israel justification for continued aggression.
The ongoing military escalation risks worsening Lebanon’s already dire economic and political situation. Reports indicate a humanitarian crisis as residents flee southern Lebanon, while the U.S. Embassy advised its citizens to leave the country due to the unstable security situation.
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