Lebanese President Joe F . Aoun called on his US counterpart Donald Trump to continue supporting Lebanon, its just causes, its institutions, its army and its people, with the aim of "turning the page on wars, tragedies and pain", in parallel with US mediation between Lebanon and Israel, which resulted in the signing of a framework agreement rejected by Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Islamic Group and other Lebanese figures and forces.
In a congratulatory telegram to Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, President Aoun said: "There is no doubt that the history of the relationship between Washington and Beirut is old and rooted in the principles and values of humanity and society that united their vision, and today it is returning strongly thanks to your determination and tireless pursuit to restore stability and security to the Middle East in general, and to Lebanon in particular."
Aoun added: "While we appreciate your efforts in this context, we call on you to continue to stand by Lebanon's just and just causes, and by the side of its institutions, its army and its people, openly turning the page on wars, tragedies and pain, and opening a new page of hope, peace and stability."
Washington prevents Israel from storming a strategic hill in southern Lebanon
Aoun's invitation precedes a meeting between Trump and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu in the United States, where the latter's office announced in a statement that he and Trump agreed during a phone call on Friday to meet soon in the United States
In addition, Israeli sources revealed to Channel 15 that Netanyahu is waiting for the green light from Trump in order to control a Hezbollah base dug into the heights of the strategic "Ali al-Taher" area located east of the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon.
The sources indicated that Trump asked Netanyahu to postpone this operation, while negotiations are still underway with the Iranian side, and the Israeli army estimated that there were between 30 and 40 members of Hezbollah's "Badr" unit trapped inside the site, including a number of commanders.
Military reports on the ground confirm that Hezbollah thwarted six Israeli attacks to take control of the strategic elevation before the ceasefire agreement came into effect, forcing Israeli forces to reposition on the hillside.
Ali Taher Hill is one of the most prominent strategic heights in southern Lebanon, as it overlooks large areas of Nabatieh and the Tuffah region, and provides a view towards parts of southern Lebanon to areas close to the border with occupied Palestine, and Tel Aviv says it includes facilities and sites that were historically used for military and surveillance purposes due to its height and dominant location.
Continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement
Israeli forces are trying to impose realities on the ground in the south by closing the crossing routes to the Yellow Line area they occupy by placing concrete barriers and raising two border gates in the western Strip, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Lebanon's official National Media Agency reported that an Israeli drone carried out a raid on the town of Mansouri in the district of Tyre, and that one person was reportedly injured and taken to hospital. At dawn on Saturday, Israeli forces also fired their heavy machine guns towards the town of Haddasha, targeting the outskirts of the towns of Kunin and al-Tiri, in continuation of Israel's repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.
The IDF artillery targeted Jabal Basil off the town of Ramaya and Beit Lev in the Bint Jbeil district and the vicinity of the Arnon area intermittently, in conjunction with heavy machine gun bursts.
Earlier on Saturday, a ERW bomb exploded in the area of Wadi Tulin Qalawi, necessitating the intervention of ambulance teams, and munitions from ERW exploded in the town of Siddiqin without causing any injuries, and the Israeli army set fire to houses in the town of Qantara, southern Lebanon.
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