Lebanon security intensifies following Israeli strikes in Nabatieh

Tensions have escalated in southern Lebanon following renewed Israeli airstrikes on the Nabatieh region, including the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The strikes have caused significant material damage and heightened regional instability.

In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun chaired a security meeting at Baabda Palace to discuss the situation. The meeting emphasized the need for increased Lebanese Army deployment in the south to secure the area, protect civilians, and facilitate the return of residents. President Aoun stressed that any security vacuum in the south would serve as a pretext for further violations of national sovereignty.

Concurrently, the United States Embassy in Lebanon expressed full support for the Lebanese government's efforts to assert sovereignty through the Lebanese Army. The Embassy stated that decisions regarding war and peace should remain exclusively with the Lebanese state and noted that southern Lebanon does not belong to regional entities or militias.

U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa also addressed the recent violence, suggesting that the escalations are a response to prior actions. He indicated that the U.S. remains willing to negotiate through the Lebanese state and supports international efforts to bolster the Lebanese military.