Shafaqna Pakistan: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and six other countries have condemned the killing of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, calling for an urgent end to hostilities amid escalating violence in the region.
In a joint statement, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Sierra Leone and Switzerland joined the four countries in expressing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation and mass displacement in Lebanon. The statement did not directly name either Israel or the Hezbollah.
The remarks follow the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers last month. According to preliminary findings cited by the United Nations, one was killed by an Israeli tank shell, while two others were reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device believed to have been planted by Hezbollah.
Israel has intensified airstrikes on Lebanon following missile fire from Hezbollah on March 2, just days after the outbreak of wider regional hostilities involving Israel and Iran-backed groups.
Israel has since widened a ground invasion into Lebanon’s south, ordering hundreds of thousands of Lebanese to flee villages. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 2,000 people and forced 1.2 million from their homes, according to Lebanese authorities.
Hezbollah missile fire has mainly targeted towns near Israel’s northern border but has also been aimed at major cities. Two Israelis and 13 soldiers have been killed since March 2, Israel says.
“We condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon,” the 10 countries said in the joint statement, which only noted Israel in the context of the ceasefire in the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
“We welcome the ceasefire agreed between the United States, Israel and Iran. We call for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon.”
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with strikes on Israel and the Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran have killed thousands and displaced millions. A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran still has a week to run.
Iran says Israel’s war in Lebanon must be included in any agreement to end the wider conflict. Israel has ruled out discussing a ceasefire in Lebanon and demanded that Beirut disarm Hezbollah.
Source: Express Tribune
