The Lebanese government chose on Sunday to “confront” the crash of two Israeli drones near the Hezbollah media office in the southern suburbs of Beirut through “diplomatic means.”
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry instructed the country’s representative to the United Nations to file an immediate complaint to the Security Council to condemn the Israeli violation.
The measure came after Prime Minister Saad Hariri described the incident as "an open assault" on Lebanese sovereignty and a clear violation of UN Resolution 1701.
The PM said that he would keep holding consultations with President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri to determine the next steps.
“The Lebanese government will assume its full responsibilities in this regard, to ensure not being dragged toward any hostile plans that threaten security, stability and national sovereignty,” Hariri said, adding that the international community and the friends of Lebanon in the world have a responsibility to protect Resolution 1701 from the dangers of the Israeli violations and their repercussions.
For his part, Aoun said the Israeli drone incident is further evidence on Israel's aggressive intentions and a threat to stability and peace in Lebanon and the region.
Hariri received Sunday a call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which they discussed the latest Lebanese and regional developments.
Pompeo stressed the need to avoid any escalation and to work with all concerned parties to prevent any form of deterioration.
Hariri thanked the top US diplomat for his call, adding that Lebanon will exert all efforts toward restraint and easing the tension.
The PM’s comments revealed that Lebanon has chosen to respond to the Israeli aggression diplomatically.
The first of Hariri’s moves came in the form of a Lebanese Foreign Ministry complaint to the UN Security Council.
"There have been 481 Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty in two months … This illustrates Israel's blatant attempt to attack civilian property, a serious violation of national sovereignty, an attack on Lebanon and a serious threat to the stability of the region," a ministry statement said.
Several Lebanese officials also condemned the Israeli assault on Lebanon’s sovereignty.
"This new Israeli crime that violates all international conventions will not affect our will to fight and win," Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil wrote Sunday on his Twitter account.
Interior Minister Rayya al-Hassan also said on Twitter that the drone incident united officials in order to maintain security and stability through unified political decisions that serve Lebanon's interest.
