The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain have called on Israel to refrain from a ground invasion of Lebanon and urged officials from both countries to find a political solution, writes Politico.
The joint statement released on the 16th of March said that an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon would have devastating humanitarian consequences and must be avoided – the situation is already very worrying, especially given the mass displacement of the population.
In response to strikes by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah after the US and Israeli war against Tehran, Israel has already directed significant military force against Lebanon. More than 800 people have died in Israeli bombing since the 3rd of March, more than a hundred of them were children, according to local media.
The hostilities have also displaced about a million Lebanese.
Israel has invaded Lebanon several times over the past 50 years. The last attack took place in 2024, and was justified by efforts to strengthen the country’s northern border. The Israel Defense Forces announced that they had begun limited ground operations to destroy key Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
The Canadian and European statements stressed that the countries condemn Hezbollah’s actions and will support the Lebanese government’s efforts to disarm the group. So far, it has refused to comply with Beirut’s demand to lay down its weapons. The statement also said that its authors stand in solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, who have been drawn into the conflict against their will.
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