WANA (Oct 17) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Friday, October 17, strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon, calling them a flagrant violation of Lebanon’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
According to reports, Israeli warplanes carried out multiple attacks late Thursday night and early Friday morning, striking more than 10 locations across southern Lebanon.
Baghaei noted that Israel has violated the ceasefire nearly 5,000 times in recent months, causing civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of Lebanon’s reconstruction and economic development.
He attributed this situation to the continued inaction and appeasement of the ceasefire guarantors — France and the United States — holding them directly responsible for the escalation.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also condemned the recent Israeli attacks, describing them as part of a systematic policy to destroy Lebanon’s infrastructure, and urged a firm international response to Israel’s repeated violations.
An Iranian man walks next to the stands with the flags of Iran, Hezbollah, and Lebanon in a street in Tehran, Iran, October 18, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.