Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between Lebanon and Israel to hold a new round of negotiations next week in Rome, Israeli violations continue in southern Lebanon, accompanied by new statements from Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz affirming that there will be “no withdrawal until Hezbollah is disarmed.”

"We did not ask for permission"

In his latest remarks, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said, “We did not ask for permission from any party to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain there.”

He added, “We will stay in the security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon.”

Katz noted that “over the past two and a half years, we have dismantled most of Hezbollah’s capabilities and leadership, and established a strong security zone in Lebanon stretching from the west, at the sea, to Shebaa and Mount Hermon in the east.”

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters during the NATO summit held in Ankara on Wednesday that he believes Israel will withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon.

Flags of Israel and Lebanon. (AFP)

Violations
In the same context, the Israeli army carried out overnight operations inside the town of Khiam, which were heard across several areas in southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency.

A loud explosion was heard at around 1:30 a.m., shaking the area, with its source identified in Khiam. It was followed by four similar explosions around 3:30 a.m., resulting from additional blasts carried out by the Israeli army inside the town.

The army also carried out another explosion overnight in the town of Taybeh, coinciding with artillery shelling targeting the outskirts of Deir Saryan.

Five previous rounds of negotiations between the two sides were held with U.S. mediation in Washington. The latest round resulted in the signing of a framework agreement late last month, which Hezbollah rejected.

The agreement notably stipulated the disarmament of the party and the gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas it entered in southern Lebanon, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from two “pilot” areas.

The Rome negotiations are scheduled ahead of a planned visit by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Washington, following an invitation from his U.S. counterpart.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem reiterated, in a recorded speech delivered during the party’s events held alongside the funeral ceremonies of the late Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, his rejection of the framework agreement, describing it as “in Israel’s interest” and affirming that “no clause will pass through it.”