Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon
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Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon on Friday, calling the attacks a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace.
Israel's June 5 attacks, carried out just ahead of the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha, breached Lebanese sovereignty and the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, according to a statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
'These strikes represent a blatant disregard for international norms,' a MOFA spokesperson said, warning that the use of force could endanger civilian lives and spark broader instability.
Pakistan expressed solidarity with Lebanon, affirming support for its government and people 'during this difficult time.'
Islamabad also urged the United Nations and international ceasefire mediators to take immediate steps to hold Israel accountable and prevent further escalation.
'Pakistan remains firmly committed to peace, justice, and the principles of international law,' the statement added.
Read: Netanyahu admits arming criminal groups in Gaza
Moreover, Iran has aslo sharply criticised Israel's overnight air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon, calling them 'a blatant act of aggression' and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
The strikes targeted the densely populated Dahiyeh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold, as well as locations in South Lebanon.
Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli attack on Beirut's southern suburbs on June 5, 2025 [Mohamed Azakir/Reuters] (Reuters)
Israel claimed the strikes hit underground Hezbollah facilities used for drone manufacturing and storage. The Israeli military stated that at least 100 housing units were destroyed in the operation, allegedly used by Hezbollah operatives.
Hezbollah has not commented on the Israeli claims.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the raids, saying they reflect Israel's disregard for regional peace and Lebanese sovereignty.
This marks the fourth Israeli strike on Beirut since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November last year.
The WAFA news agency confirmed widespread damage in affected neighbourhoods. No official casualty figures have been released.
The air strike comes amid Israel's ongoing onslaught on Gaza that did not spare Palestinians on the first day of Eidull Azha, one of Islam's holiest festivals, killing 11 people and injuring several others, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources.
Despite the festive occasion, many Palestinians performed Eid prayers amid the rubble of their destroyed homes, as Israel's genocidal war continues to devastate the besieged enclave.
This marks the fourth Eidul Azha observed under the shadow of war in Gaza, which has been reeling from a deliberate and systematic campaign of extermination since October 7, 2023.
Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.
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