Lebanese PM Meets UN Chief Amid Escalating Israeli Strikes in South Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam began meetings with Arab and foreign officials in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as Israeli forces continued escalating attacks in southern Lebanon. Salam met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at UN headquarters, accompanied by Foreign Minister Youssef Sahyoun and Lebanon's UN Ambassador Ahmed Al-Aref. They discussed Lebanese and regional developments. Addressing the Lebanese diaspora in New York, Salam described his government's decisions as "difficult and fateful" and initiated a "serious reform process," vowing to continue despite challenges. He emphasized the government's commitment to implementing its decisions regarding weapons, regardless of difficulties. Salam also urged Guterres to maintain a UN-sponsored international force in southern Lebanon after the current UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate expires.
These statements coincided with intensified Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon, including airstrikes, artillery shelling, and explosions targeting several towns. Israeli warplanes conducted two raids on the outskirts of Barchit and Deir Seryan in the Bint Jbeil district. Quneitra was subjected to artillery shelling, accompanied by an explosion in Ainata. Fires broke out in several homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyya, while the outskirts of Mayfadoun faced intermittent shelling. Shelling extended to other areas, including Wadi al-Slouqi, the Marjayoun plain, and the vicinity of the refinery station. Heavy shells also landed on the outskirts of Hada and Haris in the Bint Jbeil district.
In Mansouri, Israeli forces carried out a series of explosions, including the eleventh explosion of the day, while the hills of Ali al-Taher, near the Kafr Tibnit crossing, were shelled. The outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kafr Tibnit experienced intermittent artillery shelling. Reports also indicated house fires and explosions in several southern towns. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed pleasure at Aoun's White House visit on July 21 and praised his leadership during the current phase.
