Lebanon in ‘intense talks’ with Washington, Paris to prevent new Israeli strikes on Beirut
Israel launched a massive wave of deadly attacks on south and east Lebanon over the weekend, while threatening to attack the capital
Lebanese officials have been in “intensive contact” with the US and France to prevent any Israeli bombardment of the country’s capital, Beirut, according to a Lebanese official cited by AFP on 24 March.
The report comes after heavy Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon over the weekend – which were a response to rocket fire from the country’s south.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam “made diplomatic contact with France and the United States … as well as with the UN, to achieve de-escalation following Israeli threats to target Beirut,” the official said. During the war, destructive Israeli airstrikes leveled much of Beirut’s southern suburb and displaced thousands.
Salam “emphasized the need to control security and prevent a repeat of rocket fire,” the official added.
Israel stepped up its daily violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon with a massive wave of attacks on the southern and eastern regions of the country on 22 March – in response to the launching of five primitive rockets toward the Israeli settlement of Metula early Saturday morning.
Hezbollah, which typically claims its operations publicly, has denied any involvement in the rocket fire.
According to a source cited by AFP over the weekend, the Lebanese army detained two Syrians who were “working as guards at a farm near the rocket-launching site.” They reportedly saw several men setting up primitive launchers and firing the rockets before leaving.
Eight people were killed in the Israeli attacks that followed.
Tel Aviv claims it targeted Hezbollah rocket launchers and weapon sites across the south and Bekaa. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said in a statement earlier on Saturday that Israel “will not allow a reality of fire from Lebanon on the Galilee communities,” adding, “We have promised security to the Galilee communities, and that is exactly what will happen.”
“The fate of Metula is the same as Beirut,” Katz stated, threatening the capital.
“Israel is trying to expand its aggression against Lebanon and may fabricate a breach to justify a military escalation,” sources told Lebanese news outlet Al Jadeed on Saturday night.
Tel Aviv has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanese territory since the truce agreement took effect in November last year, violating the deal over 1,500 times.
Israel also continues to occupy south Lebanon, saying it had received a green light from the US to remain at five posts along the border despite the ceasefire – which requires a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from south Lebanon.
Earlier this month, the US announced it was facilitating indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to discuss Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli jails, 13 “disputed” points along the border which Tel Aviv was meant to withdraw from years ago, and the five points occupied by Israeli forces after the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024.
“Israel intends to lure Lebanon into political negotiations with the aim of normalizing relations,” Lebanese Parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri said on Sunday.
“Lebanon has an agreement that enjoys international and Arab support, as well as endorsement from the UN, and it is implementing it and adhering to it to the letter. Israel is the one obstructing its implementation and seeking to circumvent it,” he added.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Yousef Rajji said on 22 March that Beirut is “intensifying diplomatic efforts” to ensure an “immediate and unconditional” Israeli withdrawal, ruling out any talk of normalization or direct negotiations with Israel.