Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday that the group had "a legitimate right to resist (Israeli) occupation,” adding that the group would support the Lebanese army.
Hezbollah also said that, while Lebanon was bound by a ceasefire, it was not obligated to be drawn into political negotiations with Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that any negotiations with Israel to halt its ongoing strikes on southern Lebanon must be mutual.
Israel has recently intensified its strikes on southern Lebanon. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which nominally ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war last November.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes across southern Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah militants, weapons depots and command centers.
Israeli forces have also maintained positions on several strategic points inside Lebanese territory.
Lebanese officials have accused Israel of striking civilian areas and destroying infrastructure unrelated to Hezbollah, calling on Israeli forces to withdraw and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“Lebanon is ready for negotiations to end the Israeli occupation,” Aoun said last week, “but any talks cannot be one-sided — they require mutual will, which is still lacking. The format, timing and location of negotiations will be determined later.”
He added that the Lebanese army’s presence in the south will increase to 10,000 troops before the end of the year, noting continued coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
The ceasefire stipulates that both Israel and Hezbollah are required to cease hostilities, with the Lebanese army and UNIFIL deploying south of the Litani River to ensure no armed groups other than the army operate in the areas.
The army has since deployed in dozens of positions across southern Lebanon and is working alongside UN peacekeepers to monitor ceasefire violations.
