German Foreign Minister Supports Continued Israeli Presence in Southern Lebanon, Sa'ar Denies Annexation Ambitions

German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, explicitly expressed his support for the continued presence of Israeli army forces in specific areas of southern Lebanon, considering it a necessary step to secure northern Israeli areas from Hezbollah attacks. This stance came during a press conference held in the capital Berlin with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, who is on an official visit to Germany to discuss regional developments.

The German minister stressed the necessity for the Lebanese government to act decisively to implement measures to disarm Hezbollah, while at the same time condemning the military operations carried out by the party against Israeli targets. Despite his support for the Israeli military presence, he warned against ending the conflict by targeting Lebanese civilians or turning their country into an open war zone.

For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar claimed that Tel Aviv has no expansionist ambitions in Lebanese territories, and that ground operations are limited to purely defensive objectives. Sa'ar indicated that settlers in the north are living in a difficult security reality, claiming that the ground incursion aims exclusively to provide them with protection and prevent border threats.

In a related context, Wadephul expressed his hope that the ongoing negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli sides would succeed in reaching a sustainable agreement that protects civilians from both sides. He affirmed that the sight of young generations in Lebanon growing up amidst the rubble of destroyed homes is morally unacceptable and will not contribute to enhancing Israel's long-term security.

On the ground, sources reported that the Israeli occupation army carried out about 60 aerial and ground attacks on various areas in Lebanon during the past twenty-four hours. These aggressions resulted in the martyrdom of five people and the injury of others, amidst the continued aggression that has been escalating significantly since the beginning of last March.

In contrast, Hezbollah announced the execution of 17 military operations targeting gatherings of occupation soldiers, military vehicles, and tanks in contact areas in southern Lebanon. Field sources confirmed that these operations came in response to continuous Israeli incursions and attempts to establish new military points within Lebanese territories.

Reports indicate that the occupation army continues systematic demolition operations and the bombing of residential blocks in border towns, despite a fragile ceasefire agreement. The occupation has established a buffer zone up to 10 kilometers deep, where the presence of residents or journalistic teams is prohibited, deepening the humanitarian crisis in those areas.

Occupation forces also imposed what they called the 'Yellow Line,' a field demarcation that separates dozens of southern villages from their geographical surroundings and the rest of the Lebanese regions. These measures come as part of attempts to impose a new geographical and security reality by force, amidst international silence regarding these violations that affect Lebanese sovereignty.

According to the latest statistics from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the toll of victims of the Israeli aggression since March 2nd has reached about 2,700 martyrs, in addition to more than 8,200 injured. These figures illustrate the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the intense and continuous shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities in various governorates.

On the political front, it appears that the ceasefire agreement reached in mid-April is facing the risk of complete collapse due to repeated Israeli violations. Despite the extension of the agreement until this May, military operations and the partial occupation of some southern villages are still ongoing, emptying the agreement of its content.

HUMANITARIAN suffering continues in southern Lebanon with Israel's insistence on continuing its scorched-earth policy and destroying the infrastructure of border towns. The international community is cautiously monitoring the outcomes of these developments, amidst conflicting German diplomatic statements and the reality on the ground imposed by the occupation.

It is unacceptable for the young generation in Lebanon to grow up amidst the ruins of their parents' homes, and this will not make Israel safer.