Israeli planes over Lebanon .. Aoun vows to defend and Hariri is committed to calm

JERUSALEM - Israeli reconnaissance planes flew over a number of Lebanese areas on Friday and as Prime Minister Michel Aoun vowed to confront any Israeli aggression, Prime Minister Saad Hariri reiterated Lebanon's commitment to ending the war with Israel.

Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that Israeli reconnaissance planes flew over a number of border areas in the south and the northern Bekaa.

Quietness prevails on the Lebanese-Israeli border, days after Hizbullah's operation targeted an Israeli military vehicle inside the Avivim settlement.

For his part, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the recent Israeli attack on the southern suburb of Beirut constituted a departure from the rules of engagement reached under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

During his meeting with the UN representative in Lebanon, Jan Kubic, Aoun said that any attack on Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be met with legitimate self-defense, and Israel would bear all its consequences.

Aoun also stressed that the Lebanese army deployed alongside the international forces in the south is fulfilling its duty.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri confirmed at a cabinet meeting Lebanon's commitment to Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israeli war.

Macron connects
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his country's commitment to the stability and security of Lebanon, and stressed during a contact with Hariri the importance of providing the elements of calm on the southern border with Israel.

Hariri 's press office said he thanked the French president for his efforts to contain the escalation after Israel's attack on the southern suburb of Beirut.

It is noteworthy that last week witnessed tension on the border between Lebanon and Israel, and began the escalation of Israeli bombardment on sites in Syria, killing two members of Hezbollah, followed by the crash of two Israeli jets in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

On Sunday, Hezbollah responded by firing anti-tank missiles at an Israeli settlement. Israel responded by shelling positions in southern Lebanon without causing casualties.

On Thursday, diplomatic sources reported that the United States blocked a Security Council declaration on the recent tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border because it included criticism of Israel.