BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday accused Israel of committing serious violations of international law through its continued military operations in southern Lebanon, calling for international action to halt the attacks.
During a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Aoun said Israel’s continued destruction of homes and bulldozing of villages in southern Lebanon constituted “a direct violation of human rights” and “a flagrant breach of international laws and customs”, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency.
President Aoun urged the international community to intervene to bring the Israeli military operations to an end.
الرئيس جوزاف عون امام المفوض السامي للامم المتحدة لحقوق الانسان
Volker Turk:– مواصلة إسرائيل تدمير المنازل وجرف القرى في الجنوب تشكل انتهاكاً مباشراً لحقوق الانسان ومخالفة صريحة للقوانين والأعراف الدولية ما يستوجب تحركاً دولياً لوضع حد لها.
– إسرائيل استهدفت أيضا الأماكن… pic.twitter.com/LEScJVgjVh— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) July 27, 2026
Concerns over religious and heritage sites in Lebanon
During the meeting with Türk, Aoun also accused Israel of targeting religious and cultural heritage sites in southern Lebanon.
According to the presidency’s statement, Aoun said the attacks demonstrated “premeditated intentions against both people and stone”, stressing that the sites were neither military positions nor used by armed groups.
The Lebanese president reaffirmed his country’s commitment to implementing the US-brokered Framework Agreement between Lebanon and Israel but warned that continued Israeli military operations risked undermining the arrangement.
He said Lebanon would not accept continued violations of the agreement’s provisions.
According to Aoun’s office, Türk said the UN human rights office was monitoring developments in Lebanon, particularly continued Israeli attacks since March 2, to prepare a detailed report on human rights violations.
Lebanese army says operations hampering deployment
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army accused Israel of continuing military operations in southern Lebanon that it said were obstructing the army’s deployment under existing understandings with Israel.
In a statement, the army said Israeli forces continued “their attacks and violations of current understandings and of international laws through the systematic destruction and bulldozing of homes, bombardment and sweeps with automatic weapons in several southern areas.”
“The continuation of these attacks obstructs the army’s full deployment according to current agreements and prevents the return of residents to their villages and towns,” the army added.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks and demolitions in southern Lebanon have continued in recent months.
Framework agreement
The latest accusations come amid efforts to implement a US-brokered framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel on June 26.
The agreement provides for the Lebanese army to extend its control over two pilot areas in southern Lebanon.
Last Tuesday, the Lebanese army began deploying in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah in the Nabatieh district as part of the first phase of that plan.
However, Hezbollah has rejected the framework agreement, describing it as “non-existent”, and has reiterated its refusal to disarm.
According to the reports cited by Lebanese officials, more than 4,330 people have been killed and over 12,236 injured in Lebanon since Israeli military operations intensified in early March.
