Ten countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, have condemned the killings of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon while urging an immediate end to hostilities as the conflict intensifies.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the countries expressed deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation and the growing displacement crisis in Lebanon.
The statement was also signed by Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Sierra Leone and Switzerland.
“Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom remain deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon,” the statement said.
The condemnation follows the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers serving under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon last month.
According to preliminary findings from a UN investigation, one of the peacekeepers was killed by a projectile fired from an Israeli tank, while the other two died after an improvised explosive device believed to have been planted by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Violence in Lebanon escalated after Israel intensified airstrikes following missile attacks by Hezbollah on March 2. The strikes occurred three days into the broader conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Israel has since expanded its ground offensive in southern Lebanon, ordering hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate their villages.
Lebanese authorities say the Israeli campaign has killed more than 2,000 people and forced about 1.2 million people to flee their homes.
Hezbollah’s missile fire has mainly targeted towns near Israel’s northern border but has also struck larger cities. Israeli authorities say two civilians and 13 soldiers have been killed in the attacks since March 2.
“We condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon,” the countries said in their statement.
The joint declaration also welcomed a ceasefire agreed between the United States, Israel and Iran, describing it as a step toward reducing wider regional tensions.
The conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iranian targets. Tehran retaliated with missile attacks against Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases.
Thousands have been killed and millions displaced by the wider conflict, although a fragile two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is currently in place and still has about a week remaining.
Iran has insisted that Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon must be addressed in any broader peace agreement. However, Israel has rejected linking the two conflicts and has demanded that the Lebanese government disarm Hezbollah before any ceasefire discussions.
