Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed Wednesday that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Army announced Wednesday that Israeli forces are “continuing their attacks and violations of existing agreements and international law, most recently detonating the municipality building in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh ... in addition to the public school, clinic, kindergarten, and several homes in the town.”

Israeli drones targeted Wednesday the Kafra-Assi road, Beit Yahoun and al-Mansouri, injuring several people, the National News Agency said.

In Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, Haddatha, Beit Yahoun, Wadi touline and Wadi Slouqi, Israeli forces carried out demolitions.

President Joseph Aoun met Wednesday in Baabda with U.S. general Joseph Clearfield, the head of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara said principles of Security Council Resolution 1701 – adopted exactly two decades ago and which forms basis of UNIFIL’s mandate – remain the cornerstone of efforts to preserve stability in south Lebanon and support peace in the region.

Speaking during a commemorative ceremony at UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, Major General Abagnara said that, in a changing and increasingly complex regional environment, “the principles of Resolution 1701 are more relevant than ever.”

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa announced Tuesday that "the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations are taking place every two or three weeks and are making significant progress and offering a new solution in each round."

The European Union on Tuesday congratulated Lebanon on the adoption of the law abolishing the death penalty, saying it marks a “significant step forward for human rights in the country.”

A heated argument and shouting match were reported Tuesday between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defense Minister Michel Menassa, after the premier reportedly insisted on preventing the minister from delivering a speech in parliament regarding the general amnesty bill.

The disagreement prompted Menassa to leave the session.

President Joseph Aoun announced Tuesday that the negotiations with Israel are “making progress,” adding that “in any case” the talks “are better than the devastating results of war.”

“The scale of Israeli attacks on our country has decreased since the signing of the framework agreement, which has positively impacted the return of Lebanese citizens to spend the summer in their homeland,” Aoun added.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Tuesday strongly condemned "the brutal attacks launched by the Zionist regime in recent days on areas in southern Lebanon," according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.