Lebanon’s president made a rare visit to a southern city on Saturday, close to where Israel captured a strategic hill, amid fears of more Israeli attacks.
President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Nabatiyeh came after Israel seized parts of Ali Taher ridge earlier this month, where Israeli officials said they had blown up Hezbollah tunnel networks, despite a June 20, US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.
The ceasefire largely halted active fighting, which began on March 2, when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, two days after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran.
However, Israel has continued attacks and airstrikes on areas in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has also fired explosive drones without claiming responsibility.
Heads of the country’s security agencies accompanied Mr Aoun, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Some residents of Nabatiyeh have been calling on the army to boost its presence in the city in order to avoid a possible Israeli ground offensive.
One man told Mr Aoun in footage aired on local TV stations that residents want to feel secure and that their children were safe after being displaced and humiliated.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than one million.
Since the ceasefire was implemented, hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Mr Aoun said the state would follow up on the needs of the residents “so that you stay here”.
Lebanon and Israel have held several rounds of direct talks in Washington and Rome.
The US state department announced Friday that the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks would be held in Rome in October.
Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel and has called on the government to abolish the framework agreement reached in June.
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