Lebanon warns Hamas not to carry out any attacks from its territory

Lebanese authorities warned the Palestinian Hamas group Friday not to carry out any attacks from Lebanon otherwise they will face the “harshest measures.”

The warning by the Higher Defense Council, Lebanon’s top military body, came weeks after several Lebanese and Palestinians were detained on suspicion of firing rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The move comes as Lebanese authorities are spreading their authority throughout the country, mainly in the south near the border with Israel after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war that ended in late November with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

“Hamas and other factions will not be allowed to endanger national stability,” the council said. “The safety of Lebanon’s territories is above all.”

Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests by The Associated Press for comment on the Lebanese decision.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, the Palestinian group that has armed presence in Lebanon has carried out several attacks against Israel. Israel has since carried out airstrikes that killed Hamas official, including one of its top military chiefs, Saleh Arouri, in Beirut.

Lebanese authorities detained last month several people, including a number of Palestinians, who were allegedly involved in firing rockets toward Israel in two separate attacks in late March that triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on parts of Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied at the time that it was behind the firing of rockets. “The harshest measures will be taken to put a complete end to any act that infringes on Lebanon’s sovereignty,” said the statement that was read by Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Mustafa.

The meeting of the Higher Defense Council was attended by senior officials including the country’s president, prime minister, army commander and heads of security services. The council’s statement quoted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as saying that all “illegal weapons” should be handed over to the state.

The announcement in Beirut came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit Lebanon later this month. Since the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire went into effect in late late November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes that left dozens of civilians and Hezbollah members dead.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone fired three missiles Friday morning at a gas station in the southern village of Houla wounding five poeple. On Thursday, Israel said it killed an official with Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force in a drone strike in south Lebanon.