Europe has warned Israel that continued strikes on Lebanon will result in “devastating humanitarian consequences.” The Israeli military announced “limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds” in its northern neighbor on Monday after the group attacked in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a joint statement issued Monday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada said they were “gravely concerned” by the escalating violence and called for “meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution,” urging “immediate de-escalation.”
WAR ALERT: Israel Invades Lebanon
United Nations peacekeepers have added to the concerns, saying that Israel’s “actions are unacceptable.”
“A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict. It must be averted. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon, including ongoing mass displacement, is already deeply alarming,” the joint statement read.
The broader US-Israel war against Iran has already highlighted a growing rift between European NATO members and Washington. European leaders have rejected US President Donald Trump’s demand to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which was de facto closed by Iran after the escalation. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius delivered the bluntest pushback, saying on Monday that “this is not our war, we have not started it.” –RT
The Strait of Hormuz Standoff: Trump’s War Has Already Lost, and You’re Not Ready for What’s Coming
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 886 people in the past two weeks, with more than 2,000 injured and over 1 million people registered as displaced, according to local authorities.
Israel Targets Hezbollah Chief of Staff in Beirut Strike, Raising Fears of Escalation
The war has expanded in the aftermath of Israel’s incursion into Lebanon. These warnings from Europe also come as the U.S. ponders the takeover of Cuba, which is likely to eventually result in a worldwide war.