Rubio supports Lebanon's sovereignty. And the South is burning with incursions and bombing of churches

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated his country's commitment to consolidating the outcomes of the Lebanese-Israeli talks hosted by Washington, stressing the United States' support for Lebanon's sovereignty over its entire territory, during a phone call he held on Friday, May 29, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

According to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency, the call dealt with "reviewing the general situation in Lebanon, the region and current developments" in light of the continuation of Israeli attacks despite the declaration of a ceasefire.

Aoun stressed "the need to exert all possible efforts to reach a ceasefire as the main entrance to any subsequent step, and the necessary corridor to create the appropriate conditions to address the various files."

For his part, Rubio reiterated "the commitment of the US administration to continue its efforts to consolidate the outcomes of previous meetings in Washington, and to support Lebanon's stability, independence, sovereignty over its entire territory, and its natural right to self-determination."

Security talks round in Washington

In parallel, a new round of security talks between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations began Friday at the Pentagon, during which Beirut demanded an end to Israeli attacks, which have escalated in recent days despite the declared truce.

The Lebanese delegation includes 6 officers, headed by the army's director of operations, Brig. Gen. George Rizkallah, while the head of the strategic department at the Planning Directorate, Amichai Levin, participates on the Israeli side, and a military source said that the Lebanese delegation "will emphasize the need for a ceasefire, and present the army's plan to limit weapons and extend the authority of the state."

The talks come at a time when the southern border is witnessing new Israeli raids and warnings to evacuate seven towns, which have caused a massive wave of displacement, following  an Israeli airstrike south of Beirut, the second since the truce announced on April 17.

On  Thursday, the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc called on the Lebanese authorities to withdraw from direct negotiations with Israel, accusing Israel of trying to "impose security coordination in favor of its aggression against our country" in the military talks.

Escalation on the ground and Israeli incursions

Israel and the United States are demanding the disarmament of Hezbollah, a difficult task entrusted to the army by the Lebanese government last year, and Israel this week vowed to step up its operations in Lebanon and said it was expanding its ground operations in the south, where most of the population is being evacuated.

The National News Agency reported that Israeli forces arrived at night on the outskirts of Dibin, in their latest incursion into Lebanese territory. The reporter saw Israeli tanks between Marjayoun and Debin.

During a visit to northern occupied Palestine to inspect his troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that his army had crossed the Litani River, which lies about 30 km (30 miles) north of the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Bombing of church and school in Jdeidat Marjayoun

In the context of the daily violations of the truce, the Israeli army targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Georges in Jdeidat Marjayoun on Thursday-Friday night.

The official Lebanese News Agency said that an Israeli missile targeted the dome of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Georges in the center of the town of Jadida Marjayoun, causing severe damage to the church and its surroundings.

It reported that an Israeli missile also landed on one of the walls of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts Christian School, causing damage to the building.

On Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that the ongoing Israeli attacks on the southern cities of Tyre and Nabatieh, and the accompanying destruction of historical monuments and threats to the population, amount to "collective punishment" condemned by international laws and norms.