The Israeli military continued its incursions and the demolition of homes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, despite the Lebanese president announcing that a senior United States general will soon arrive in Beirut to address a ceasefire.
The ongoing military operations come despite a positive atmosphere surrounding the seventh round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Rome. As attention turns to the next round of talks scheduled for September 1, Lebanese demands remain unresolved, primarily regarding a ceasefire, halting home demolitions in occupied villages, and defining new areas for a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
In a new violation of the “test zone” agreement, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli infantry force, supported by vehicles and bulldozers, advanced into the centre of the Zawtar El Gharbiyeh town in the Nabatieh district after midnight on Friday. The forces raised a dirt mound 100 metres from the town square.
Citing local residents, the agency stated that the Lebanese army remained stationed in its primary position a few metres from the newly established mound, amid intense flights by Israeli drones.
The NNA also reported that the town of Taybeh was subjected to an Israeli detonation on Friday evening, while the Ali Al-Taher heights on the outskirts of Nabatieh El Fawqa faced intense Israeli artillery shelling. The Israeli army continued to target the town of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district with concentrated artillery fire, resulting in the burning of a house.
Israeli forces destroyed the Shaqra water station in the Bint Jbeil district. Additionally, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade toward a Lebanese army bulldozer working to open a road in Al-Mansouri, an area that has been targeted over the past two days, according to the NNA.
The Lebanese Army said in a statement that one of its soldiers suffered minor injuries after an Israeli strike targeted an army bulldozer in Al-Mansouri while it was clearing roads and removing rubble.
The Israeli army also conducted a combing operation with medium and heavy machine guns on the main road in the town of Zawtar El Charkiyeh in Nabatieh, and a Merkava tank targeted homes in the area.
General Clarfield soon in Beirut
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun informed ministers on Friday that “positive progress” had been made regarding the borders with Israel and Lebanese prisoners during the Rome negotiations, expressing hope that “practical steps will appear soon in this regard.”
During a cabinet session, Aoun confirmed that the “US administration will work to address the ceasefire and the test zones,” noting that US General Joseph Clarfield, head of the military coordination committee, will arrive in Beirut soon to follow up on these topics.
Aoun briefed ministers on his recent visit to the United States and his meeting with US President Donald Trump, describing it as successful “despite some betting on its failure.” He stated that closed-door discussions were “positive” and that the US president “showed understanding of Lebanon’s situation, and opened many doors.”
He noted that the results of the meeting with Trump translated into “lifting the ban” on US air transport companies travelling to Lebanon, “hoping Middle East Airlines planes will land in US airports, especially since it is capable, through its air fleet, of reaching them,” he said.
Aoun added that work is underway to hold an economic conference in Washington, attended by relevant ministers and a Lebanese delegation headed by the prime minister, which is expected to have a positive return.
Additionally, Aoun briefed the cabinet on the results of his visit to Turkey and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He considered the meeting “positive,” noting “Turkey’s readiness to help in the energy field, especially electricity and oil.”
“I sensed the Turkish President’s keenness on the stability of Lebanon and Syria, and on no country interfering in the internal affairs of the other, and I also asked him for help in working to extend the UNIFIL mission, through his international contacts and relations,” Aoun said.
