Defense Minister: Israeli Shelling of Army Position Violates Resolution 1701

The National Defense Minister in the caretaker government, Maurice Slim, confirmed that "the Israeli enemy's shelling of a Lebanese army position on the southern border today, resulting in the martyrdom of one soldier and injuries to others, is a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. This necessitates condemnation from the international community, which calls day and night for the implementation of this resolution. It is proper for the countries that are currently advocating for the respect of Resolution 1701 to direct their requests not to Lebanon, which adheres to respecting the resolution, but to Israel, which has refused since 2006 to implement this resolution in all its provisions and continues its aggressions against Lebanon on land and air, causing civilian and media martyrs, while also violating Lebanese airspace to strike Syria, once again ignoring international agreements and resolutions that prohibit violations of state sovereignty on land, sea, and air." While Slim praised the bravery of the martyred Lebanese soldier and his comrades, including those wounded and currently receiving treatment, he pointed out that "the army's confrontation of Israeli aggression today, yesterday, and every day is a natural expression of the oath sworn by our heroic men—officers, sergeants, and individuals—confirming once again that this national institution is rich with its personnel and must remain free from exploitation, bidding, monopolization, and personal ambitions."