Erdogan says Turkey and Lebanon agree to act together in Syria

BEIRUT: Israeli settlers crossed into Lebanese territory on Wednesday, entering the border town of Maroun Al-Ras in a significant incident.

The group set up tents and took photos of themselves in the surrounding area.

The Israeli army, present on Lebanese territory since October 1 and remaining in the border area, declared that an investigation was underway into this serious matter.

Photos taken by the settlers showed two tents and a group of men accompanied by two children. The group held up banners displaying the Star of David, with the cedar of Lebanon, the symbol of the Lebanese flag, prominently displayed in the center.

It was later discovered that one of the settlers had recently shared a video on social media in which he told his accompanying child that Lebanon belonged to Israel. The video had already sparked widespread outrage in Lebanon.

Israeli violations extended to areas near sites belonging to UNIFIL forces operating south of the Litani River.

A UNIFIL statement reported activities carried out by the Israeli army near one of our sites in Maroun Al-Ras, describing the incident as dangerous and unacceptable, as it endangers the security of our staff.

Both incidents coincided with a meeting of the committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Held at the Italian unit's headquarters in Ras Al-Naqoura, the talks brought together military representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.

For the third day in a row, Israeli forces continued to demolish and bulldoze houses, including in the town of Naqoura.

According to the city's mayor, Ali Awada, the scale of systematic destruction in the city has reached 70 percent since the ceasefire agreement took effect on November 27.

Awada added: Israeli forces are systematically demolishing the town, located just 3 km from the border. We have not been able to directly assess the extent of damage or losses, as the Israeli military has banned citizens from entering the city to inspect their properties. However, images and videos from the area clearly reveal that Israeli machines bulldozed homes, shops and civilian facilities, in what appears to be a calculated act of retaliation against the city and its residents.

He expressed surprise at the failure of UNIFIL forces and ceasefire monitors to prevent Israeli forces from demolishing civilian infrastructure and installations in several towns, including Naqoura, where UNIFIL headquarters.

The destruction spread to the areas of Tire Harfa, Al-Jabeen and Sheheen in Tire district, with residents of Tire reporting the sound of explosions.

Israeli military reconnaissance aircraft operated 24 hours a day at low altitude over southern airspace as well as Beirut and its southern suburbs.

The Lebanese army, in coordination with UNIFIL forces, recovered several bodies of Hezbollah members killed in clashes with the Israeli army during the vast war launched by the Israeli army.

In the town of Adaisseh, located in the district of Marjeyoun, the number of bodies is estimated at around thirty, all recovered by the Lebanese Red Cross.

The process of recovering the bodies in the town of Taybeh still awaits Israeli approval, as requested by UNIFIL forces.

Civil protection teams continued their search for victims in the northern district of Khiam following the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the area and the advance of the Lebanese army.

Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a report from Tamara El-Zain, secretary general of the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon, titled Israeli aggressions against Lebanon and sectoral damage.

It was prepared by the council in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon.

The headquarters of the Lebanese Press Syndicate in Beirut witnessed a gathering of dozens of activists from the Shiite Muslim community opposed to Hezbollah, from the south and the Bekaa. Their goal was to launch a rescue plan under the slogan The State Protects Us.

Media activist Mohammed Barakat said: “It is necessary to include the Shiite sect in the state project, after it was proven that sects and weapons do not protect a group of Lebanese and after the collapse projects of sectarian domination in all regions.

We tried (to use) weapons. It turned out that they don't protect us. True security can only be achieved through state and international resolutions.

Barakat added that Shiites in Lebanon want a Lebanon with one army, without militias who want to liberate Palestine or armed cowardly groups in every alley and sect.

He said Lebanon should ultimately be a democratic parliamentary system, based on electoral processes rather than dominated by guns, assassinations and blackshirts.

Activists highlighted the legitimacy of the state, its constitution, the Taif agreement, Arab legitimacy and Resolution 1701.

Compliance with these measures would protect the Lebanese population, especially those residing in the south, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut, they said.

Lebanon should serve as the ultimate homeland for all its citizens, embracing an Arab identity and affiliation, characterized by shared interests, prosperity, development and investment.