Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs threatens de-escalation efforts: Mikati

Israel’s attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs threatens to escalate the volatile situation between Lebanon and Israel, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday during an urgent Cabinet session.

During the meeting held to address Tuesday’s Israeli strike on Haret Hreik, a Hezbollah stronghold, Mikati warned that the development shifted the situation to a state of “open danger.”

Denouncing the attack which targeted a Hezbollah senior commander, Mikati said that it was a “strike to all well-intentioned initiatives and efforts to [ensure] that calm and understanding prevail.”

“We will continue to work to save our country and protect our society from any danger. We stress that Lebanon doesn’t want war, [and] will preserve the dignity of its people and [its] sovereignty…without any neglect of its rights.”

The Israeli strike targeted senior commander Fuad Shukr, who is close to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The attack came in response to a weekend strike on the annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children and that was blamed on Hezbollah, although it denied any involvement in the attack.

The Lebanese group confirmed on Wednesday that Shukr was in the building targeted but said that it is still awaiting information on his fate. The Israeli strike killed a woman and two children, according to media reports.