New Israeli massacre in the south.. Lebanon welcomes a 'European force' if 'UNIFIL' withdraws

Beirut - Mansour Shaaban: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, during his meeting with French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, with Minister of Justice Adil Nassar present, stated that “Israel’s successive aggressions, the killing of innocent children and women, the destruction and burning of homes, and the confiscation of property are condemnable, unacceptable, and unjustified crimes that target the framework agreement process and undermine all efforts to de-escalate tensions in the south and the region as a whole.” President Aoun emphasized Lebanon’s support for the renewal of the international force in the south, UNIFIL, and welcomed “the French and Italian initiative to form a European force to fill the gap in case the international peacekeeping forces withdraw,” noting that Lebanon supports the extension of these forces.

Aoun added: “My visit to Paris next week to participate alongside President Emmanuel Macron in the opening of the preparatory meeting for the international conference to support the Lebanese Army and internal security forces, and to discuss the issue of the international force in the south.”

For his part, the French Minister of Justice praised the reforms achieved so far, particularly the abolition of the death penalty, and said that Lebanon can always rely on France, highlighting “support for Lebanon in the courageous reform path it has chosen, especially since implementing this path is a fundamental condition for achieving Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.”

This came as the south experienced a terrifying day, with the Israeli army committing a new bloody massacre in the town of Kafr Kila, in which nine Lebanese, including two infants, were killed and five others were injured with varying degrees of severity, after its warplane struck a three-story residential building, completely destroying it. An Israeli drone also struck a civilian car in Kafr Kila, killing two medics.

Additionally, the Israeli air force carried out a series of strikes on areas including Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Arab Salim, after the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for a building in the town of Deir al-Zahrani, which was destroyed by warplanes about 22 minutes later.

For her part, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced that Israeli occupation attacks over the past three days resulted in at least 27 deaths and more than 69 injuries.

The Ministry’s Health Emergency Operations Center said in a statement yesterday that among the victims were children, women, and medics.

It noted that the toll in the town of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon alone reached approximately 12 dead and 10 injured yesterday, while the final tally for the day before yesterday was 11 dead and 26 injured.