Lebanon cautions Hamas against launching attacks

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    BEIRUT — Lebanese officials have issued a stern warning to the Hamas organization, stating that any aggressive actions originating from Lebanon will be met with the “strongest measures.” This announcement from Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council comes shortly after several individuals, including both Lebanese nationals and Palestinians, were detained on suspicion of launching rockets from Lebanon into Israel’s northern territory.

    The council, which represents Lebanon’s highest military authority, emphasized that groups like Hamas will not be permitted to jeopardize national security. “The safety of Lebanon’s territories is paramount,” declared the council, underscoring its commitment to preserving national stability.

    Brigadier General Mohammed al-Mustafa delivered a statement on behalf of the council. “We will enact the harshest measures to definitively end acts that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he asserted. At the time of the announcement, Hamas representatives had not responded to requests for commentary.

    Following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the militant organization has initiated several assaults against Israel from within Lebanon, where it maintains a military presence. In response, Israel has conducted airstrikes, resulting in the death of several Hamas leaders, including prominent military figure Saleh Arouri in Beirut.

    The Lebanese government is actively working to reassert control over its entire territory, particularly in the southern regions adjacent to the Israeli border. This move comes in the wake of a prolonged 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which concluded late November with a truce mediated by the United States.

    During the previous month, Lebanese authorities detained multiple suspects, including Palestinians, reportedly connected to rocket attacks targeting Israel in late March. These incidents provoked retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese positions. At the time, the Hezbollah organization refuted claims of its involvement in the rocket launches.

    Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council convened in a meeting attended by key figures such as the nation’s president, prime minister, military leader, and security chiefs. Their statement included a call from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, advocating for the relinquishment of all unauthorized weapons to the state’s control.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is slated to visit Lebanon in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, despite the ceasefire agreement established with Israel in November, the latter continues to execute almost daily airstrikes on Lebanese soil, which have resulted in numerous civilian and Hezbollah casualties.

    In a recent report from Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, an Israeli drone attack on a gas station in the southern village of Houla injured five individuals on Friday morning. Moreover, Israel claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Thursday that allegedly killed a Hezbollah operative with its elite Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.