Beirut: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have jointly called for the inclusion of Lebanon in regional de-escalation efforts. They urged all parties involved to work toward a lasting political solution and expressed their support for direct talks, while condemning recent attacks and reaffirming Lebanon's sovereignty. The ministers have also pledged assistance to Lebanon.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the joint statement emphasized the importance of Lebanon's inclusion in regional peace efforts, highlighting the risks posed by the continuation of conflict in Lebanon to regional stability. The ministers welcomed President Aoun's initiative to open direct talks with Israel, along with Israel's acceptance to begin these talks facilitated by the United States. They urged both parties to seize this opportunity for lasting security in Lebanon, Israel, and the broader region.
The statement condemned attacks by Hezbollah against Israel and the massive Israeli strikes on Lebanon on April 8, which reportedly resulted in over 350 deaths and more than 1000 injuries. It underscored the need for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law. Attacks against UNIFIL were also strongly condemned, with a call for the safety and security of UN peacekeepers to be ensured at all times.
Expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people and authorities, the ministers pledged to provide emergency assistance to the more than one million displaced individuals in Lebanon, in coordination with the Lebanese government. They reaffirmed the importance of respecting Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). The ministers commended the Lebanese government's decision to ban Hezbollah's military activities and to reinforce state authority over Beirut, urging swift implementation of these measures.