Israeli military says Hezbollah launches surface-to-air missiles at air force aircraft
Tel Aviv, June 6
The Israel Defense Forces has said that it detected surface-to-air missile launches by Hezbollah, targeting Israeli Air Force aircraft.
In a statement Friday night, the IDF added that the incident concluded with no injuries or damage to the aircraft.
The launch activated air raid sirens in the city of Kiryat Shmona and eight villages in northeast Israel, close to the Lebanese border, sending thousands of residents rushing to shelters, reports Xinhua news agency.
The developments came despite Israel and Lebanon agreeing on Wednesday to implement a ceasefire following trilateral negotiations in Washington.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has slammed Iran for using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States and criticised Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem, saying the Lebanese people were tired of war and deserved to live in peace.
Aoun made the remarks in an interview with CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, which was released by the Lebanese Presidency on Friday (local time).
On Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that Iran's primary condition for accepting the April 8 truce with the United States and Israel was a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.
"This is not your country; it is our country," said Aoun in the interview, noting it was unacceptable for regional powers to use Lebanon to advance their own interests while Lebanese civilians continued to bear the consequences of conflict through deaths, displacement, and destruction.
The Lebanese president stressed that negotiations remain the only viable way to end the conflict between Lebanon and Israel. He noted that the Lebanese state and government must address the Hezbollah issue domestically by tackling the root causes behind the group's armed presence, including Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory and an end to the conflict.
Aoun noted that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese from all sects and regions were exhausted by decades of conflict.
"They are the Lebanese people, not Naim Qassem's people," said Aoun, commenting on statements by Qassem opposing the agreement and threatening to bring down the government through street protests.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's fascinating how quickly the ceasefire fell apart. Both sides seem more interested in posturing than actually ending the violence. The civilians in Kiryat Shmona and those villages shouldn't have to run to shelters every time there's a missile launch. This is why negotiations need real commitment, not just words.
As an Indian, I feel for the Lebanese people. We've seen our own conflicts where civilians suffer while politicians play games. Aoun's words hit hard - "This is not your country; it is our country." Hezbollah needs to understand that the Lebanese people deserve peace, not endless war just because Iran wants to use them as a bargaining chip. 😔
I can't help but think how this is a classic case of a proxy conflict. Iran uses Hezbollah, Hezbollah uses Lebanese territory, and the Lebanese people pay the price in blood and displacement. President Aoun's call for addressing root causes - including Israeli withdrawal - is the only sensible path. But will anyone listen?
This is why India has always advocated for dialogue over violence. The Middle East is a tinderbox - one misstep and the whole region could go up in flames. Hezbollah launching missiles despite a ceasefire shows they don't care about peace. And Iran's condition linking Lebanon to their talks with US? Classic power play at the expense of innocent lives. 🇮🇳🕊️
Aoun's courage in calling out Hezbollah publicly is commendable. But let's be honest - does he have the military or political backing to actually disarm them
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