Lebanon accuses Israel of plans to annex areas in south Lebanon

ISTANBUL

Lebanon accused Israel of plans to annex areas in southern Lebanon and warned of serious violations threatening its sovereignty, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA).

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made the remarks during a phone call on Thursday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres amid ongoing Israeli statements and attacks in southern Lebanon.

Salam pointed to repeated threats by the Israeli defense minister about plans to occupy areas south of the Litani River, as well as statements by the Israeli finance minister about annexing the region.

He said Israel had blown up most of the bridges over the Litani River in what he described as an attempt to isolate the area from the rest of Lebanon.

Salam also highlighted mass displacement affecting residents of towns and villages south of the river, along with daily encroachments on land and the demolition, and at times complete leveling, of homes.

He warned that such actions indicate civilians may not be allowed to return to their homes in the near future.

Salam said these actions and statements, whether under what is referred to as a “security belt” or a “buffer zone,” pose a serious threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rights of its citizens, and violate international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter.

He added that he had instructed the foreign minister to file an immediate complaint with the UN Security Council, urging the United Nations to take responsibility for halting violations.

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

Lebanese authorities said at least 1,116 people have since been killed and 3,229 injured in Israeli attacks.

The escalation came amid a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran, which has killed more than 1,340 people since Feb. 28. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US bases in Gulf countries.