19 Countries' Foreign Ministers Call for Immediate De-escalation in Lebanon
Foreign ministers from 19 countries issued a joint statement on Monday calling for immediate de-escalation in Lebanon.
The signatories -- Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom -- condemned Hezbollah attacks on Israel and denounced Israeli strikes on Lebanon on April 8, which Lebanese officials said killed more than 350 people and injured over 1,000.
The ministers welcomed Lebanese President Michel Aoun's initiative for direct talks with Israel. They urged seizing the opportunity presented by the US-Iran ceasefire to include Lebanon in broader regional de-escalation efforts and pursue a lasting political solution.
The statement also condemned attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and stressed the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. The signatories underlined the importance of preserving Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
They expressed support for Lebanon and offered emergency aid to more than one million displaced people.
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