Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon, says they undermine peace efforts

BEIRUT: Pakistan on Thursday denounced Israel’s continuing attacks on Lebanon, saying the strikes were damaging international efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said, ‘Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and the widespread destruction of infrastructure.’

The Foreign Office said the Israeli actions were hurting broader diplomatic efforts and violating international norms. It said, ‘The Israeli actions undermine international efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and constitute a blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian principles.’

Pakistan also urged the world to act. The Foreign Office called on the international community to ‘take urgent steps to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon’.

Reaffirming its support for Lebanon, the statement said Pakistan stood firmly with the Lebanese state and its people. It reiterated its ‘unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon during this difficult time’, and said Pakistan supported Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and its peace and stability.

Lebanon declares national day of mourning

Lebanon announced a national day of mourning on Thursday after Israeli strikes hit the country, killing more than 250 people and raising questions over the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The Lebanese prime minister’s office said Thursday would be ‘a national day of mourning for the martyrs and wounded of the Israeli attacks that targeted hundreds of innocent, defenceless civilians’, and ordered public administrations to close while flags were lowered.

Later, Hezbollah said it had launched rockets towards Israel in response to what it described as a breach of the US-Iran truce.

There were conflicting signals over whether the fighting in Lebanon was covered by the truce, while Israel maintained that it was not included.

Heavy strikes hit Beirut and other areas

Israel carried out what was described as its most intense and coordinated aerial assault on Lebanon on Wednesday since the start of the US-Iran war. A series of blasts shook Beirut, with large clouds of smoke rising over the capital.

The Israeli military said it had targeted more than 100 locations in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

According to Lebanon’s civil defence, the attacks killed 254 people and injured 837 others.