UK Urges End to Israeli Military Operations in Lebanon
The appeal came after Israeli forces intensified air operations and advanced further into Lebanese territory despite a ceasefire agreement reached in mid-April following weeks of hostilities.
On Sunday, Israeli troops took control of Beaufort Castle, a historic Crusader-era fortress dating back approximately nine centuries. The same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had directed the military “to expand its ground maneuver” against the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
According to reports, the latest developments could complicate ongoing indirect discussions involving the United States and Iran. Stability in Lebanon remains one of Tehran’s key conditions for extending its current truce arrangement with Washington.
In a statement posted on social media Monday, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the ongoing military operations, saying they “has killed and displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and eroded space for diplomacy. It must end.”
Cooper also urged Hezbollah to halt attacks against Israel and surrender its weapons, emphasizing the need for all parties to uphold the ceasefire agreement.
“All sides must respect the ceasefire and engage with negotiations in good faith,” the foreign secretary said.
Concern over the situation was echoed by Germany’s foreign minister, Johannes Wadephul, who described the Israeli advance as a “cause for serious concern.” He warned that the operation could “exacerbate the already tense situation and trigger new waves of displacement within Lebanon.”
According to reports, Israeli airstrikes carried out on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians in Lebanon.
Figures released by Lebanese authorities indicate that since Israel launched military operations against Hezbollah in early March—shortly after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran—more than 3,400 people have been killed, around 10,000 injured, and over 1.6 million displaced across the country.
The latest escalation has increased international concern over the potential for a broader regional crisis, with diplomatic efforts continuing alongside mounting humanitarian challenges inside Lebanon.
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