In Response to Aoun.. Israeli Defense Minister Sets Condition to Halt Strikes on Lebanon

Following a series of Israeli air raids targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday that the Israeli army would continue bombing Lebanon “unless authorities disarm Hezbollah.”

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In an official statement, Katz declared: “There will be no calm in Beirut, no order, and no stability in Lebanon without the security of the State of Israel. Agreements must be honored. If you fail to do what is required, we will continue to act — and with great force.”

His remarks came in direct response to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who condemned the Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory Thursday night, describing them as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on November 27, 2023.

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“Blatant Violation”

On Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced what he described as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah last November, following Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

According to a presidential statement, Aoun strongly condemned the Israeli aggression, stating: “This blatant violation of an international agreement, as well as of the fundamental principles of international and humanitarian law, is clear evidence of the perpetrator’s refusal to accept the terms of stability, political settlement, and a just peace in our region.”

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Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the strikes, calling on the international community to “take responsibility by deterring Israel from continuing its aggressions and pushing it to fully withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.”

Fourth Round of Bombing

This marks the fourth time that southern Beirut has been targeted by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah came into force in late November 2023, following a conflict that lasted over a year. Initially sparked by the war in Gaza, tensions escalated into an open confrontation in September 2024.

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The agreement stipulated that Hezbollah fighters would withdraw from the area south of the Litani River (about 30 km from the Israeli border), and dismantle their military infrastructure there. In return, the Lebanese army and UNIFIL would strengthen their deployment along the Israeli border. Israel was also required to withdraw from areas it had advanced into in southern Lebanon during the conflict.

Backed by Iran, Hezbollah had launched a “support front” for Gaza shortly after the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.

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