The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Fahmy, affirmed that the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon are “unacceptable,” stressing that Arab positions must not be limited to denunciation and denunciation, but rather be translated into practical steps to support Lebanon, strengthen the capabilities of its army, and facilitate the return of people to their villages.
Fahmy launched his positions during a visit to the Benoit Barakat barracks in the city of Tire in southern Lebanon, where he was accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Al-Sayyid. This is the first visit of its kind by an Arab League Secretary-General to the south, and carries a message of solidarity with its people in light of the continuing Israeli attacks and their humanitarian and security repercussions.
Fahmi met with the Commander of the South Litani Sector, Brigadier General Nicolas Thabet, and senior Lebanese Army officers, where he was briefed on the field conditions and challenges facing the region.
Fahmi said that his visit to Lebanon stems from his responsibility towards the Arab countries and their peoples, explaining that he was keen for it to be one of his first foreign visits after assuming his position, given the position that Lebanon occupies in his eyes, and his desire to see closely the challenges facing the Lebanese.
He stressed that his choice to visit the south carries a message to his people and abroad, that the Arab world, along with the international community, is aware of the extent of the suffering they are subjected to, and is ready to stand by them with concrete steps. He stressed the need to strengthen the capabilities of Lebanese institutions and facilitate the return of citizens to their villages and homes.
Fahmi pointed out that the first resolution issued by the Arab League Council at the ministerial level last September addressed the Lebanese issue in a comprehensive manner, aiming to address the causes and roots of the crisis, especially the repeated Israeli attacks and targeting of Lebanese citizens and capabilities.
In his response to journalists’ questions, Fahmi described the scene he witnessed in the town of Zawtar and the city of Nabatieh as “unfortunate,” considering that it reflects an Israeli methodology based on demolishing residential communities, seizing land, and attempting to displace citizens, thus preparing the way for the possibility of Israeli occupation. He affirmed his confidence in the Lebanese people’s adherence to their land, noting that the League is following developments and studying, in cooperation with the Lebanese government, what can be done to rebuild Lebanon and establish stability.
Regarding reconstruction, he explained that the issue requires work in multiple sectors, but it does not detract from the Arab League’s responsibility and commitment to Lebanon. He stressed that this commitment is “the beginning of a continuing path and not the end,” stressing that Arab positions must go beyond denunciation to practical steps to support the state and the army. He said: “We support you, and we wish you all the best.”
For his part, the Commander of the South Litani Sector, Brigadier General Nicolas Thabet, referred to “the political and national implications of the Arab delegation’s visit,” stressing the importance of solidarity with Lebanon in the face of the challenges that threaten its security, stability and sovereignty.
He pointed out that the Israeli attacks caused widespread destruction and led to the displacement of thousands of Lebanese, while the continued occupation and security risks still prevent the safe return of people to their villages, and obstruct the deployment of the army to the recognized international borders.
Thabet called for effective Arab and international action to ensure the cessation of attacks, complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and respect for sovereignty and international legitimacy resolutions, stressing that the army continues to perform its duty despite the difficult circumstances and limited capabilities.
The Lebanese military official expressed his hope that the Arab League would contribute to mobilizing political and diplomatic support for Lebanon, strengthening the army’s capabilities and contributing to the reconstruction of the south. He also called for developing sustainable arrangements for the phase following the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in cooperation with the United Nations and international partners, in a way that prevents the emergence of a security vacuum within the framework of implementing International Resolution 1701.
He concluded by pledging on behalf of the soldiers: “My comrades and I in the army pledge before you that we will sacrifice what is most precious to preserve Lebanon.”
Today, Tuesday, the Lebanese judiciary issued two subpoena warrants against two Hezbollah officials, according to a judicial source, against the backdrop of their connection to a shipment of explosives seized by the security services about two weeks ago.
This comes amid increasing pressure on Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran, which has been weakened by two successive wars with Israel since 2023, and the government decided last year to disarm it.
On the eighth of this month, the security services stopped a truck loaded with 500 kilograms of highly explosive materials while it was being transported from the east of the country towards Beirut. It stopped its driver and a person with him. Hezbollah later admitted that the explosives belonged to it.
The judicial source familiar with the investigations said, “The government commissioner to the military court, Judge Claude Ghanem, issued two subpoena warrants against two Hezbollah officials, after preliminary investigations into the explosives shipment file led to the full identification of their identities.”
According to the source, the security services are working to determine their locations to arrest them.
After the truck was seized, a security source reported that two people inside it were arrested, one of whom was “the son of an official in Hezbollah, while the other also belongs to the party.”
During the initial investigations, the detainees gave the military names of two other people who they said coordinated the transfer of explosives, and they are the two people against whom the judiciary issued subpoenas.
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said in a press conference in the middle of this month that the party informed “the security and judicial agencies” that “the car and its cargo belong to the resistance,” explaining that they are “capabilities used by the resistance to resist the Israeli occupation.”
Since the beginning of this month, the authorities announced the seizure of three shipments of explosives.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed that his government “will deal with the required firmness with any weapon possession, transfer or use outside the framework of legality.”
President Joseph Aoun stressed on Saturday that the army and security forces are responsible for “implementing the government’s decisions regarding extending state authority, preventing armed demonstrations, and confiscating weapons and ammunition,” explaining that “violators are referred to the judiciary, which fully carries out its duty in implementing the laws and decisions of the political authority.”
Following a devastating war that Hezbollah and Israel fought for more than a year and ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, the Lebanese government approved a plan to disarm the party.
After the renewal of the war between the two parties on March 2, the governments of the two countries entered into direct negotiations under American sponsorship, which resulted in the signing of a framework agreement in June that specifically stipulated the disarmament of the party, the gradual withdrawal of Israel from large areas it occupied in the south, and the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from “experimental” areas.
