Lebanon's government moved decisively on Thursday to reinforce state control over Beirut while filing urgent diplomatic appeals, as Israeli airstrikes continued to pound multiple regions across the country. The cabinet authorized security forces to assert full authority in the capital and restrict weapons possession to official agencies, citing urgent public safety needs.
President Joseph Aoun revealed during the emergency session that Lebanon is intensifying global diplomatic efforts to secure inclusion in ceasefire negotiations, stating: "We are tired of statements of condemnation." The government simultaneously filed a formal complaint with the UN Security Council regarding Israel's military actions.
Israeli forces confirmed targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across southern Lebanon and Beirut, including weapons depots and command centers. Lebanese health authorities report over 200 fatalities and 1,000 injuries from this week's attacks, with strikes continuing despite a U.S.-Iran brokered truce that excluded Lebanon.
International calls for de-escalation flooded into Beirut as explosions rocked areas from the Bekaa Valley to southern suburbs. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized the need for immediate implementation of security measures, while cross-strait diplomatic channels remain active to negotiate Lebanon's inclusion in regional peace efforts.
