Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned ‘ongoing Israeli attacks’ in southern Lebanon, calling it a ‘violation of the Framework Agreement’ in a post from his office’s X/Twitter account on Saturday morning.
The president's statement came in response to IDF strikes on Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the village of Ansar in southern Lebanon overnight on Saturday, following what the IDF described in a statement as aggressive actions by Hezbollah forces towards IDF soldiers on the Ali al-Taher Ridge.
According to reports from Lebanese state media, the IDF's retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah in Ansar killed seven people, allegedly including three women and two children.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also responded to the IDF strikes, calling on Israel to "halt its military escalation" in Southern Lebanon in a post to X/Twitter on Saturday morning.
“The responsibility for dealing with any military structures, if they exist on Lebanese territory, lies exclusively with the Lebanese state, through the Lebanese army and its legitimate institutions, and their existence does not grant Israel the right to violate Lebanese territory or endanger civilians.” Salam asserted.
“Israel must halt this escalation. For the security of our people and their right to life on their land are not subject to negotiation or bargaining," he added.
In response to the attacks, Hezbollah said that IDF strikes in southern Lebanon would be "met accordingly."
"This Israeli escalation, through the targeting of civilians and the expansion of the areas being targeted, reflects the desire and intention of the enemy’s criminal prime minister, Netanyahu, to escalate the war in order to bolster his domestic political standing, serve his electoral objectives, and appease the far Right," the terror group wrote in a statement on Telegram.
"The Israeli enemy must understand clearly that its attacks, violations, and attempts to impose a new reality cannot continue and will be met accordingly, in defense of Lebanon, its people, its sovereignty, and its national dignity."
Ongoing push for trilateral framework agreement
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have remained in a state of flux since the trilateral framework, agreed upon by Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, was signed in June.
The peace agreement, which aims to encourage diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, remains uncertain as the IDF continues to maintain its presence in Southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah refuses to disarm.
The Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.