Israeli shelling continues as Lebanon’s PM demands withdrawal in UN speech

What Happened

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory up to the internationally recognised border, the release of all Lebanese detainees, and the full enforcement of the ceasefire. He said his government had entered US-mediated negotiations with Israel under President Donald Trump to end the war and restore sovereignty, and pledged to oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah in exchange for Israel’s eventual full withdrawal. Al Jazeera reporter Zeina Khodr, broadcasting from Froun, said Israeli warplanes and drones were flying low, artillery shelling was causing uncontrollable fires, and Lebanese civil defence and firefighters were not being allowed by Israeli forces to reach the flames. She said more than 60 towns in southern Lebanon remain occupied by the Israeli army, which is carrying out systematic demolitions of homes despite the framework agreement. The same day, Israeli forces carried out a large explosion near Taybeh and Deir Siryan, and an Israeli air strike targeted a valley between Froun and Ghandourieh, triggering a large fire. Al Jazeera reported Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have killed at least 4,386 people and wounded 12,407 since March 2, described as when the current Hezbollah-Israel war started, and that Israeli forces have occupied up to 600 sq km of Lebanese territory up to the Litani River. The US-brokered framework agreement signed in June calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal and deployment of the Lebanese army in vacated areas.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The speech and simultaneous attacks expose the gap between the June US-brokered framework and conditions on the ground, where Israeli forces still occupy a large area and carry out demolitions. Salam tied Lebanese sovereignty and Hezbollah disarmament to Israel’s full withdrawal, signalling that the framework’s implementation—not just its existence—will determine whether the ceasefire holds. His linking of regional stability to Palestinian rights at the UNGA also frames the Lebanon file within broader Israel-Palestine tensions.

Watch For

Monitor whether the US-mediated framework yields a clear timetable and verification mechanism for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment, as Salam demanded. Watch for further Israeli explosions, air strikes, or demolitions in the more than 60 occupied towns, and whether Israeli forces allow Lebanese civil defence and firefighters to access fire areas near Froun, Taybeh, Deir Siryan, and Ghandourieh. Any formal response from the US, Israel, or Hezbollah to Salam’s disarmament pledge at the UN General Assembly is also a key next development.