Lebanese President Aoun: No New Negotiations With Israel Currently

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Saturday that there are currently no new negotiations underway with Israel. During a visit to Nabatieh, he emphasized Lebanon's national priorities, which include the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of prisoners and displaced persons, and reconstruction. Aoun visited the Nabatieh Public Hospital to commend its staff for their resilience and dedication in providing medical services under difficult circumstances.

The intensity of fighting between Lebanon and Israel has decreased since a framework agreement was reached in June, but recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, particularly around Nabatieh, have escalated. The Israeli military announced on Thursday the destruction of Hezbollah tunnels in the strategic Al-Tahir highlands, near Nabatieh. Following this announcement, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in southern Lebanon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In the past week, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, including 12 members of a single family. The Lebanese Army warned on Wednesday that the ongoing Israeli escalation in the south jeopardizes the implementation of the framework agreement between the two countries.