Lebanon Rejects Israeli Occupation Amid Ongoing Conflict

Lebanese Army Chief Rudolf Heykel said Lebanon will not accept any Israeli occupation of its territory and pledged the army will continue to support citizens returning to their homes. Speaking on Army Day, Heykel emphasized that Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability depend on a fully deployed armed forces across the country.

The statements come amid renewed fighting that began on 2 March when Israel launched intensive air strikes and occupied several southern villages. The Lebanese government reported more than one million people displaced and the Health Ministry recorded 4,333 deaths since the attacks began. A U.S.-mediated cease‑fire, first enacted on 17 April for ten days, has been extended several times, with a third round of talks on 14‑15 May and a further 45‑day extension from 17 May. A framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel was signed on 26 June.