Israel pummels Lebanon in disregard of Trump’s Iran deal
Araghchi: Tel Aviv regime wants ‘permanent war’
Israel intensified its strikes on Lebanon on Friday despite an agreement between Iran and the United States, which includes halt to regime’s attacks on the Arab country.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes and bombardments killed at least 47 people and wounded 97 others in Lebanon on Friday. Later in the day, Israel and Lebanon’s resistance group Hezbollah reportedly agreed to a ceasefire brokered by US and Qatari mediators following talks with Israel and Iran. However, Lebanese state media reported further Israeli airstrikes in violation of the ceasefire. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the latest Israeli strikes on his country, saying the "killing and destruction constitutes a dangerous escalation.”
"It effectively targets all ongoing efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and end the war," a statement from the presidency said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reacted to the developments in Lebanon, saying the regime was after a “permanent war” following remark from its far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying "all Lebanon must burn" after four Israeli soldiers were killed there.
"This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It's a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime. The genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv is a threat to all of humanity. It threatens all humans. Its only interest is permanent war," Araghchi said on X.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon began in March after Hezbollah launched military operations against the regime in response to the regime’s aggression against Iran.
The war has claimed at least 3,800 lives since March 2, according to the latest figures released by Lebanon's Health Ministry.