Trump Announces US Prohibition on Israeli Bombing in Lebanon
Former US President Donald Trump has declared that Israel has been "prohibited" by the United States from carrying out further bombing in Lebanon, stating emphatically that such strikes will no longer take place. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted, "The USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the USA Enough is enough!!!"
Netanyahu's Firm Stance on Hezbollah Dismantling
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the country has not yet completed its objectives regarding Hezbollah, vowing to persist in efforts toward the group's "dismantling." This statement came just hours after a 10-day ceasefire took effect. Netanyahu emphasized, "We have not yet finished the job. There are things we plan to do to address the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat," with the key goal being to dismantle Hezbollah, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu also detailed that Israel's military operations had "removed" two significant threats originating from Lebanon. He described these as "a near threat involving the infiltration of thousands of terrorists and anti-tank fire onto our communities and a distant threat... of 150,000 missiles and rockets to destroy Israel's cities."
UN Reports and Ceasefire Violations
A spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon noted on Friday that no airstrikes had been observed since midnight. However, the official accused Israel's military of violating Lebanese airspace and conducting artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, highlighting ongoing tensions despite the ceasefire.
Regional Dynamics and Casualty Figures
The cessation of Israel's conflict with Hezbollah has been a primary demand from Iranian negotiators, who have previously accused Israel of breaching the current ceasefire with strikes on Lebanon. Israel, however, maintains that the agreement does not extend to Lebanon, underscoring the complex diplomatic landscape.
Hezbollah, in response, asserted that the Lebanese people possess "the right to resist" Israeli occupation of their land, adding that its future actions "will be determined based on how developments unfold." The conflict has resulted in nearly 2,300 fatalities in Lebanon since its inception, according to AFP reports, illustrating the severe human cost of the hostilities.
