PM Najib Mikati Asks International Society To Play A Role In Stopping Israel's Aggression In Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday (21/9/2024) urged the international community to take a firm stance against the "terrible Israeli killing" in Lebanon. (ANTARA/Anadolu/py)

JAKARTA - Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday (21/9) urged the international community to take a firm stance against the "terrible Israeli slaughter" in Lebanon.

"Actually I intend to go to New York as part of Lebanese diplomatic efforts at the United Nations General Assembly to stop Israel's ongoing aggression against Lebanon and the massacres carried out by the enemy," Mikati said in a statement.

"However, given the latest developments regarding Israeli aggression in Lebanon, I decided to cancel my trip," he added.

"There are currently no more important priorities than stopping the massacres carried out by Israeli enemies and the various types of war it carries out," Mikati said.

The Lebanese prime minister called on "international society and anyone with a sense of humanity to take a firm stance regarding the terrible massacre, and enforce international law to protect the technology apparatus of the general public from being the target of attacks."

At least 37 people, including children and women, were killed and dozens injured in a deadly airstrike by Israel in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday.

Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and main commander Ahmed Wahbi, were killed in the Israeli attack.

The attack came two days after at least 39 people were killed and more than 3,000 others injured in two waves of explosions of wireless communications devices in Lebanon.

Although the governments of Lebanon and Hezbollah have accused Israel of the explosion, Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its involvement.

Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in cross-border wars since the start of Israel's attack on Gaza, which has now killed 41,400 people, following cross-border attacks by Hamas on October 7 last year.