An Israeli fighter jet on Friday struck a portable medium-range rocket launcher in southern Lebanon, said a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The statement said the strike was carried out as "terrorist activity and movement of a Hezbollah portable rocket launcher were identified in southern Lebanon."
The attack came despite the entry into force of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon early on Wednesday.
The statement also noted that the IDF troops are deployed in southern Lebanon, working to remove any threat that endangers Israel and constitutes a violation of the ceasefire.
Israel's security cabinet on Tuesday night approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, pave the way for an end to their nearly 14-month-long fighting. According to the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army will take control of southern border areas over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw, and civilians will return home.
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the latest round of Israel-Hezbollah conflict that broke out on October 8, 2023 had climbed to 3,961, with injuries rising to 16,520, said Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health on Thursday.
Israeli fighter jet strikes Hezbollah rocket launcher in south Lebanon
Samoa regards China as an important partner and hopes to advance the continuous development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, founded on mutual respect and trust, said the Pacific island nation's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa.
Samoa was one of the first Pacific Island countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group, the prime minister emphasized that mutual respect and trust are key to fostering stable bilateral relations.
"Mutual respect and trust, I think that's a very fundamental element that makes for a successful partnership, and 50 years is not a short period of time. I think at this juncture, especially speaking with your leaders, it's an apt time to review our journey to consolidate on what has been done, done well, and also to, you know, (consider) what are the next steps in terms of what has been able to be achieved," said Mata'afa.
Noting that Samoa is much smaller than China, Mata'afa acknowledged that the two nations also differ in some ideas and concepts. She added that Samoa is currently developing models tailored to smaller countries, and China's long-standing valuable assistance has helped Samoa unlock its potential in the areas of economy, trade, and agriculture.
"With our partnership with China, we can really explore and further the potentials of what's already been done, like agriculture. So, a lot of the work has been research-based. Now I think we need to be moving on to creating value-added, business-based activities. So, it's another development along that association," said Mata'afa.
Mutual respect, trust strengthen China-Samoa relations: Samoan PM
Mutual respect, trust strengthen China-Samoa relations: Samoan PM
