An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed the head of Hamas’ military operations in the country, Israel’s army said.
The strike came as Israel said its forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon near the border after Tuesday’s deadline for their full withdrawal. The pullout is supposed to take place under the ceasefire agreement in November that ended the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s government has opposed any further delay in the Israeli withdrawal.
The Israeli military said the drone strike killed Mohammad Shaheen, the head of Hamas’ operations department in Lebanon. The army accused Shaheen of “recently planning terror attacks, directed and funded by Iran, from Lebanese territory against the citizens of the state of Israel.”
Hamas confirmed Shaheen’s death but described him as a military commander.
Here’s the latest:
Court OKs another cancellation of Netanyahu testimony
TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court has accepted another request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a scheduled day of testimony in his criminal trial for “security reasons.” Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant. He is on trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.
His testimony was set to take place six hours a day, three days a week. It has been cancelled multiple times since he first took the stand in December, for health reasons and to free him up to handle state affairs. Israel is navigating fragile ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon and broader regional tensions.
On Monday, Netanyahu’s lawyers also asked the Jerusalem District Court to permanently reduce his weekly days of testimony from three to two, citing “the requirements of his role as prime minister against the backdrop of the complex security and diplomatic situation.” The court has not ruled on that request.
Lebanon extends suspension of flights from Iran
BEIRUT — Lebanon extended the suspension of flights to and from Iran and directed security agencies to ensure access to the country’s only airport.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said Sunday that Israel threatened to strike if an Iranian plane landed at Beirut airport and criticized the Lebanese government for banning last week’s Iranian commercial flight from Beirut. The Israeli military has accused Iran of smuggling cash to Hezbollah via commercial flights.
Travelers stuck in Tehran are still unable to return, and Lebanon’s foreign minister has been tasked to ensure the safe return of Lebanese nationals, according to a statement following a Cabinet meeting with President Joseph Aoun.
Hezbollah supporters have protested and blocked roads outside the Beirut airport in recent days. The outgoing deputy commander of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon was injured Friday when protesters attacked a convoy taking peacekeepers to the airport.
Hezbollah has attempted to distance itself from the incident. Kassem said Hezbollah was “against the attack on UNIFIL” but also criticized the Lebanese army for tear gassing protesters who gathered “peacefully” on Saturday.
Israel still committed to withdrawal from Lebanon, military says
JERUSALEM — An Israeli military spokesman says the five locations where Israeli troops will remain in southern Lebanon provide vantage points or are located across from communities in northern Israel.
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said the “temporary measure” was approved by a U.S.-led body monitoring the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel is committed to carrying out the withdrawal in “the right way, in a gradual way, and in a way that the security of our civilians is kept,” he told reporters.
Under the agreement, Israeli forces are to withdraw from a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which would then be patrolled by the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers. The ceasefire has held since it took effect in late November, even as Israel and Lebanon have accused each other of violating it.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told reporters Monday that the ceasefire agreement “must be respected,” saying “the Israeli enemy cannot be trusted.”
He said Lebanese officials “are working diplomatically to achieve the complete Israeli withdrawal, and I will not accept that a single Israeli remains on Lebanese territory.”
Israeli forces will remain in 5 locations in Lebanon after Tuesday’s deadline to withdraw
JERUSALEM — An Israeli official says forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon near the border after Tuesday’s deadline for their full withdrawal.
The official spoke Monday on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Lebanon’s government has opposed any further delay in the Israeli pullout under the ceasefire agreement that ended fighting with the Hezbollah militant group.
— By Melanie Lidman
___
Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Article by:Source:
