Lebanon’s caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdullah Bouhabib, has called for an end to what he termed as “provocations” by Israel along the shared border. During a joint news conference in Beirut with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Bouhabib emphasized that Lebanon is not seeking war but insisted that Israel must refrain from actions that escalate tensions, including the targeting of journalists and civilians in the southern part of Lebanon bordering Israel.
Bouhabib highlighted instances of attacks by Israel on positions of the Lebanese army and villages in the region. Expressing a desire for a swift resolution to the conflict, he warned of continued negative consequences for the people in Gaza and the broader region if the provocations persist.
Additionally, Bouhabib stressed the importance of providing essential supplies such as fuel, food, medicine, and electricity to the region. He underlined that, without a political solution to the Palestinian issue, lasting security, calm, and peace in the region would remain elusive.
Tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border have heightened since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. The situation has involved exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah group. Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has persisted, resulting in widespread displacement in the Gaza Strip, with over one million people affected, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).