BEIRUT: The Lebanese government continues to prepare for a possible escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Air France on Thursday extended the suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until at least Sunday due to the “security situation” in Lebanon.
Tensions continued to rise last week as Iran and its allies vowed to avenge the killings of top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Israel is accused of carrying out both assassinations.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah forces engage in almost daily clashes with Israeli forces along the border between the two countries.
The German Foreign Ministry reiterated that its embassy in Lebanon had urged all German nationals to leave the country “immediately” due to “escalating military tensions in the area.”
Lebanon's Economy Minister Amin Salam said the conflict was a major challenge for the government. He stressed the need to ensure food security and maintain supplies of goods and raw materials in a country that “imports 90 percent of its needs and produces only 10 percent,” and said the economy ministry had been under a state of emergency for three years.
“We need to reassure people about food security because we are constantly dealing with a crisis and traders and citizens are exploiting the situation,” he added.
“Some parts of the private sector saved the country from complete collapse, while others (most) exploited people's fears and concerns about the future and the shortage of goods and food in case war broke out.”
On food security levels and strategic stocks of goods and raw materials, Salam said the union had reported that “available food and raw materials could last for three months.” He added that more shipments were on their way to Beirut.
“They will arrive in the next few weeks and will last for another two months. That means we have enough food and supplies for five months.
“Israel’s targeting of the Lebanese economy is a systematic way of destroying the agricultural sector and burning Lebanese land. Agriculture provides part of the country’s foreign exchange through exports.”
Salam said the damage to the agricultural sector had cost the country billions of dollars.
He added that “domestic and foreign” media outlets had issued warnings that Lebanon's only airport, Rafic Hariri International Airport, could be targeted.
“This has been a huge blow to the tourism sector, as foreigners and tourists have left Lebanon as bookings have been cancelled,” he said.
Meanwhile, a vehicle on the road connecting the villages of Yarin and Zebane was attacked by an Israeli combat drone on Thursday. Three people were injured, according to the Health Ministry's Emergency Operations Center.
On Wednesday night, Israeli forces advanced northwards into the area south of the Litani River, carrying out their first airstrikes on the village of Douer, destroying the Rammal family's deserted island.
Israeli warplanes struck the outskirts of Mansouri village in Tyre region, causing severe damage to property, crops and infrastructure.
In an attempt to reassure Lebanese fears that the conflict could escalate into a wider war, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said the party “takes into account Lebanon's unique character and its most important national interests, as well as the interests of our people.”
“Therefore, we are determined not to allow our enemies to break the rules, but we are acting in the interests of our people and our Fatherland, no matter what the cost or how far the confrontation may go, and we will not compromise in any way.”
He continued: “Those who want to stop the collapse and the instability that is sweeping the region must put pressure on Israel's enemies to stop their aggression against Gaza.
“But how can we understand the calls for a ceasefire and prevent escalation if these parties continue to supply the enemy with the latest missiles, aircraft, artillery and other weapons from their arsenals?”
His comments came as Hezbollah responded to Israeli attacks by launching a drone strike targeting Israeli soldiers at the al-Marji military base, which the group said was a “direct hit causing confirmed injuries.”
Elsewhere, Israeli military spokesman Avichai Adri said in a message posted to social media platform X that “Air Force fighter jets destroyed several Hezbollah infrastructure sites in Bint Jbeil, Majdal Zawoon and Douayir.”
As part of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of the conflict by Lebanese and other government officials who can influence the fighters, the interim Foreign Minister Abdullah Bouhabib received a call from his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide.
The former's media office reported that Eide reassured that Norway was “committed to cooperating with all parties involved to defuse tensions and prevent further conflict” and that “prioritizing Palestinian interests and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza must avoid igniting war in the region.” Eide also reaffirmed that “Norway, which attaches great importance to Lebanon, does not want Lebanon to become the victim of a new escalation of tensions and war in the region.”
“Israel's escalation is intended to undermine the initiative launched by US President Joe Biden to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” Boo Habib said.
He condemned Israel's deliberate targeting of civilians in its attacks on Lebanon as a “blatant violation of the principles of international law” and called for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, adopted on June 10 and calling for a ceasefire agreement in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
