Canada, France, Germany, UK warn against major Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - A “significant Israeli ground ​offensive” in Lebanon must be averted since it could ‌have devastating humanitarian consequences, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain said in a joint statement on Monday.

Lebanon was sucked into the war in the ​Middle East on March 2 after the Iran-backed militant ​group Hezbollah opened fire at Israel. Hezbollah said it ⁠aimed to avenge the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah ​Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the U.S. ​and Israel’s war on Iran.

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Israel responded with an offensive that has killed more than 880 people in Lebanon. More than 1 million people ​have been driven from their homes, and more than 130,000 ​are living in collective shelters, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel has threatened Gaza-scale ‌devastation ⁠in Lebanon.

“A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict,” said the statement by Canada, France, Britain, Germany and Italy.

“It must be averted. The ​humanitarian situation in ​Lebanon, including ongoing ⁠mass displacement, is already deeply alarming.”

The statement said the countries support efforts by the Lebanese ​government to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

“We are ​gravely concerned ⁠by the escalating violence in Lebanon and call for meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political ⁠solution,” the ​countries said.

“We strongly support initiatives to ​facilitate talks and urge for immediate de-escalation.”

Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas ​in Washington; Editing by David Ljunggren, Caitlin Webber and David Gregorio

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Kanishka Singh

Thomson Reuters

Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.

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