BEIRUT: The Lebanese government continues to prepare for a possible escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as Air France on Thursday extended the suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until at least Sunday “due to the security situation” in Lebanon.
Tensions have escalated further in the past week as Iran and its allies vowed revenge for the high-profile killings of Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s top military commander, in Lebanon and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader, in Iran. Israel is accused of carrying out both killings.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah forces continue to exchange fire with the Israeli military almost daily across the border between the two countries.
The German Foreign Ministry reiterated its embassy in Lebanon’s call for all German citizens to “immediately leave” the country “due to the increasing risk of military escalation in the region.”
Amin Salam, Lebanon’s economy minister, said the conflict posed a major challenge for the government. Stressing the need to ensure food security and the supply of goods and raw materials in a country that “imports 90 percent of its needs and produces only 10 percent,” he said the economy ministry had been under a state of emergency for three years.
“We need to reassure people about food security as we are constantly facing the crisis and traders and citizens are taking advantage of the situation,” he added.
“Part of the private sector has saved the country from total collapse, while another part – a large percentage – is taking advantage of people’s fear and anxiety about the future and the lack of raw materials and food in case war breaks out.”
Regarding food security and strategic stockpiles of goods and raw materials, Salam said unions report that “the available food and raw materials are enough for three months.” More supplies are on their way to Beirut, he added.
“They will arrive in the next few weeks and will be enough to last for another two months. This means we have enough food and supplies for five months.
“Israel’s attack on the Lebanese economy is systematic, through the destruction of the agricultural sector and the burning of Lebanese soil. Agriculture provided part of the country’s foreign currency through exports.”
The damage to the agricultural sector has cost the country billions of dollars, Salam said.
He added that “internal and external” media had raised the alarm, warning that Lebanon’s only airport, Rafic Hariri International Airport, could fall victim to an attack.
“This was a blow to the tourism sector as it caused expats and tourists to leave Lebanon while reservations were cancelled,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, a car was attacked by an Israeli combat drone on a road between the towns of Yarine and Jebbayn. According to the Health Ministry’s operations center, three people were injured.
On Wednesday night, the Israeli army advanced north into the area south of the Litani River and carried out its first raid on the town of Doueir, destroying an uninhabited house belonging to the Rammal family.
In addition, Israeli warplanes attacked the outskirts of the town of Mansouri in the Tyre district, causing severe damage to property, crops and infrastructure.
In an attempt to reassure Lebanese worried the conflict could escalate into a larger war, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said the party “takes into account Lebanon’s unique characteristics and the highest national interests, as well as the interests of our people.”
“While we are determined not to allow the enemy to violate the rules, no matter the cost or the extent of the confrontation, we act in the interests of our people and our homeland and we make no compromises in doing so.”
He continued: “Those who want to stop the collapse of the state and this unstable situation that is affecting the entire region must pressure the Israeli enemy to stop its aggression against Gaza.
“But how can we understand the calls for a ceasefire or prevent escalation when these parties continue to supply the enemy with the latest rockets, missiles and other weapons from their arsenals?”
His comments came as Hezbollah responded to Israeli attacks with a drone strike targeting Israeli soldiers at the Al-Marj military base. The party said it “succeeded in scoring a direct hit, causing confirmed injuries.”
Elsewhere, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a message posted on social media platform X: “Air Force fighter jets have destroyed several Hezbollah infrastructures in Bint Jbeil, Majdal Zoun and Doueir.”
As part of diplomatic efforts by government officials from Lebanon and other countries with influence over the fighters to prevent further escalation of the conflict, Acting Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib received a call from his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide.
The country’s media office said Eide had assured that Norway “is committed to working with all relevant parties to reduce tensions and prevent further conflict,” and that “prioritizing the interests of the Palestinians and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza requires preventing the outbreak of war in the region.” Eide “also reiterated that Norway, which attaches great importance to Lebanon, does not want it to become a victim of a new wave of escalation and wars in the region.”
Bou Habib said: “The Israeli escalation aims to disrupt US President Joe Biden’s initiative to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
He condemned “Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians in its attacks on Lebanon, which constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law” and called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, adopted on June 10, calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Egypt asks its airlines to avoid Tehran airspace for three hours on Thursday
