ISLAMABAD,(Parliament Times): The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the ongoing military operations by Israel in Lebanon, warning that the escalating violence could worsen the already fragile humanitarian and security situation in the region.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the Israeli actions violated international law and were undermining efforts by the Lebanese government to maintain peace and stability. It cautioned that the attacks could further intensify the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, which is already facing heightened tensions due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
The situation in the region deteriorated following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran on US military bases in Gulf countries.
The Foreign Office urged the international community to take immediate steps to stop Israeli military operations, particularly the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and the repeated violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pakistan also expressed full solidarity with the Lebanese people, noting that the latest escalation had caused hundreds of civilian casualties and forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes.
“Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Lebanon and will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in Lebanon and across the wider region,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that Israeli air strikes and evacuation orders have forced nearly 700,000 people to leave their homes in Lebanon within just over a week.
Karolina Lindholm Billing, the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, said the rapid escalation had compelled families to abandon their homes within minutes after air strikes and evacuation warnings were issued to residents of dozens of villages.
She revealed that more than 667,000 people had registered as displaced on the Lebanese government’s online platform, with the number increasing by more than 100,000 in a single day.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed at least 486 people and injured more than 1,300 others. The UNICEF also reported that 84 of those killed were children, highlighting the severe humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.