BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday called on the United States to pressure Israel to immediately withdraw from the remaining occupied territories in Lebanon, during a meeting with a visiting U.S. congressional delegation in Beirut.

Salam stressed that Israel's continued occupation had "no military or security justification" and violated ceasefire agreements, United Nations Resolution 1701, international law, and Lebanese sovereignty, according to a statement from his office.

The meeting included Congressman Darrell Issa, leading the delegation, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson. The delegation reiterated Washington's support for Lebanon, including ongoing aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The appeal comes after Israeli forces withdrew from several border areas in southern Lebanon early Tuesday but retained control of five military positions along the frontier.

Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect Nov. 27, 2024, Israel had agreed to a fully withdraw from the Lebanese territory.

Also on Friday, the Israeli military said it conducted airstrikes Thursday night on crossing points along the Lebanon-Syria border, accusing Hezbollah of using the routes to smuggle weapons.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called the alleged activities "a blatant violation of ceasefire understandings" and vowed to "prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to rebuild its forces."

Hezbollah has not commented on the strikes. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire since it took effect.

The 2024 truce halted 13 months of fighting that intensified sharply in September 2024, displacing tens of thousands on both sides of the border. United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, mandates Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and bars armed groups from operating south of Lebanon's Litani River. Enditem

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