BEIRUT: Lebanon’s army on Sunday warned Lebanese against actions that would disturb public order in the already crisis-hit country after Israel assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut on Friday.
The army’s statement comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have intensified since the killing of Nasrallah, further exacerbating tensions in Lebanon.
The army called on citizens to “preserve national unity” and refrain from actions that could threaten civil peace during this “dangerous and delicate stage.” The statement emphasized that the “Israeli enemy is working to implement its destructive plans and sow division among Lebanese”.
As Israeli forces shift their focus from Gaza to Lebanon, the Lebanese army has deployed troops across Beirut, where thousands have sought refuge from heavy bombardments targeting southern and eastern regions of the country, as well as Hezbollah’s stronghold in south Beirut.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the Lebanese people to unite in the face of the crisis. “Our national responsibility at this historic and exceptional moment requires setting aside political differences,” he stated, having cut short his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly to address the escalating situation at home.
READ ALSO: Israel Kills Another Top Hezbollah Official in Lebanon as Airstrikes Continue
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, stressed the importance of focusing on the common interests that bind the Lebanese people together.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), she stated, “At this critical moment for Lebanon when uncertainty is rife, now is the time for the country to focus on the common interest.”
Hezbollah has been exchanging cross-border fire with Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign that has killed at least 41,553 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 7.
But this week, Israel shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, where heavy bombing since Monday has killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.
