Lebanon condemns Israel's south Lebanon demolitions

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned what he called Israel's systematic destruction in south Lebanon on Wednesday, saying Israeli attacks, incursions and demolitions violated international and humanitarian law.

Salam said the destruction of homes, infrastructure, government buildings and places of worship could not be justified by claiming that villages and towns were entirely military facilities. He said such actions displaced residents and prevented them from returning.

His statement came as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon and said Israeli troops would remain in what he called a security zone there. Katz said the Israeli military was destroying underground infrastructure in the area and "destroying all the houses".

A US State Department official said the United States expected all parties to act consistently with the framework deal reached between Lebanon and Israel in late June. The official said Israel had stated that it had no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, and that a permanent military presence in south Lebanon would not be consistent with the framework commitments or the long-term peace and security of both states.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Israeli troops carried out detonations in southern villages on Wednesday, including in Zawtar al-Shariqya, which borders one of the pilot zones under the framework deal. Lebanon's army said Israel blew up the municipal building in Zawtar al-Shariqya, as well as a public school, a health clinic, a children's nursery and several homes.

Lebanon's army chief Rodolphe Haykal met visiting US General Joseph Clearfield, who heads a coordination group involved with the June agreement. The Lebanese military said they discussed developments in the south, security arrangements and difficulties the army faces because of continuing Israeli attacks, bulldozing and destruction. President Joseph Aoun also met Clearfield to discuss implementation of the framework deal.

The June framework deal involves Hezbollah's disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in pilot zones. Israel and Lebanon are due to hold an eighth round of US-sponsored negotiations next month in Rome.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March by attacking Israel. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground invasion that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people.

Violence has decreased since a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June and the Lebanon-Israel deal, but Lebanon still reports intermittent Israeli strikes and ongoing demolitions.