Beirut: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that Israel's claim that destroyed southern Lebanese villages are military sites 'makes no sense.' 'The justification for these bulldozing and destruction operations under the pretext of the presence of military installations is refuted by the very nature of what is being targeted,' Salam wrote on US social media company X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Salam emphasized that labeling entire villages and towns, inclusive of homes, neighborhoods, government buildings, public facilities, places of worship, and infrastructure, as 'military installations' is illogical and cannot justify their destruction. He further stated that Israeli army attacks in southern Lebanon constitute a grave violation of international and humanitarian law.

Salam stressed that Lebanon's sovereignty, the security of its people, and the right of southern residents to return and rebuild their villages are 'non-negotiable.' In a separate statement, the Lebanese army reported that ongoing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon are hindering the completion of its deployment and the return of residents.

The Lebanese army added that Israeli forces had blown up civilian facilities and homes in Eastern Zawtar. These attacks, it stated, confirm Tel Aviv's 'continued destructive approach aimed at causing the greatest possible damage to southern towns and preventing the establishment of stability.'

Israel's offensive against Lebanon, which began on March 2, has resulted in the deaths of 4,335 people, injuries to 12,277, and displacement of over 1 million others, as reported by Lebanese authorities. Under US sponsorship, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a framework agreement on June 26, calling for Israel's gradual withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.