Salam’s comments came amid the now-revealed IDF operation of crossing the Litani River, where it successfully secured the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki areas of southern Lebanon.
In a televised address on Saturday, Salam called the IDF’s actions a “collective punishment” against southern Lebanese residents by “destroying towns and villages, and forcing their inhabitants into exile.”
On Sunday morning, the IDF issued an evacuation order for all residents of southern Lebanon, especially those living south of the Zahleh River. Last week, the IDF issued several evacuation orders for numerous villages in the area.
The actions will bring “neither security nor stability” to Israel, The Guardian reported him as saying.
During the address, The Guardian said that Salam had also defended the ongoing US-backed negotiations with Israel, noting that while the outcome was “not guaranteed,” an agreement would be the “least costly path for our country and our people.”
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, negotiations are scheduled to focus on the “political track,” aimed at lasting calm.
IDF holds Beaufort Ridge for first time in 26 years
Ahead of the troops’ entry, the Israel Air Force conducted extensive support strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in the area.
Support fire for the ground troops also included artillery and tank fire.
