To whom it may concern:

Lebanon’s information minister said that the Zionist colony ’s occupation of south Lebanon and its constant violations are hindering efforts to implement the ceasefire deal.

Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos said during a press conference after a cabinet meeting on 17 April that the Zionist enemy has violated the ceasefire 2,740 times since it was reached at the end of last year.

“Since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, 2,740  Zionist colony violations have been recorded, resulting in 190 deaths and 485 injuries … These violations hinder the Lebanese army’s ability to complete its mission,” he said.

He added that there is a “clear decision” to “extend sovereignty” over the entirety of the country.

When asked about the disarmament of Hezbollah, and whether it would be limited to the south of the Litani River or not, he said the “work is underway” across all Lebanese territory.

Morcos said all parties in Lebanon are cooperating, “but we face challenges and difficulties, including the continued Israeli occupation.”

The minister said that during the cabinet session, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was extended.

“Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Heikal informed the Cabinet that the army has carried out 2,500 operations alone, disposing of infrastructure, weapons, and ammunition, in addition to 2,500 other operations carried out in cooperation with UNIFIL forces,” according to ministerial sources cited by Al-Ghad TV.

The press conference came as Israeli drones carried out two attacks on southern Lebanon on Thursday, targeting the town of Umm al-Tut and the town of Aitaroun.

On Wednesday night, the Zionist Colony bombed a Hussayniya (Shia religious hall) in the southern town of Sheheen and two prefabricated homes in Zaloutiyeh. One person was injured. The Israeli army claimed it bombed “Hezbollah terror infrastructure.”

Earlier on 16 April, one person was killed in a Zionist attack on Wadi al-Hujeir, several hours after a strike on a civil defense center in Tayr Harfa.

On top of the non-stop attacks, Israeli occupation forces also remain positioned in five locations along the border in southern Lebanon, where they established themselves following the ceasefire deal in November 2024. This is aside from the Lebanese land that Israel has already been illegally occupying for decades, including the Kfar Shuba hills and Shebaa Farms.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has said that while the resistance is giving the state a chance to end Israeli violations and occupation through diplomacy, it cannot remain silent forever and will be forced to act if diplomatic efforts fail.

Meanwhile, US pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah has escalated.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said while visiting Qatar on 15 April that he is working to ensure all weapons in Lebanon come “under state control.”

Hezbollah has said that its arms are an internal matter that it is willing to discuss with the Lebanese state within the context of ensuring the weapons are incorporated into a national defensive strategy aimed at protecting Lebanon from Israel.

According to a source cited by AFP this week, Hezbollah has coordinated with the Lebanese army in handing over to the state more than 100 military positions and sites south of the Litani River.

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has also deployed more troops in the south in recent months in line with the ceasefire agreement, bringing the number up to 6,000 – with 4,000 others being recruited.

Hezbollah still retains some of its heavy weapons, including rockets and missiles, in underground bunkers in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese resistance movement says that it has rebuilt and restored many of the capabilities that were lost during the war with the Zionist Colony.

The Cradle Media report