Paris (France) (AFP) – The latest developments in the Middle East war:
Turkey wants Lebanon included
Turkey’s top diplomat said the Middle East ceasefire should include Lebanon, which has been pummelled by ongoing Israeli attacks. “We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground, including in Lebanon, and that the process will lead to lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference.
Merz warns on Lebanon
The continued Israeli military campaign in Lebanon could jeopardise peace talks expected between the United States and Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. “We view the situation in southern Lebanon with particular concern,” Merz said. “The severity with which Israel is waging war there could cause the peace process as a whole to fail, and that must not be allowed to happen.”
Pakistan praises ‘restraint’
Pakistan praised the “restraint demonstrated by all sides” in the Middle East war, but condemned ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon as Islamabad prepared to host expected US-Iranian talks. Both Washington and Tehran have confirmed their participation in peace talks brokered by Pakistan, although the schedule is still to be confirmed.
Russia calls to include Lebanon
Russia said the US-Iranian ceasefire must cover Lebanon. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed the ceasefire in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, with the ministry saying in a read-out that “Moscow firmly believes that these agreements…have a regional dimension and, in particular, apply to Lebanon.”
Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would keep hitting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah “wherever necessary.” “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination,” Netanyahu said on his personal X account.
IMF offers help
The International Monetary Fund expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the Middle East war, its managing director said, with the crisis likely to have lasting economic effects.
Oil rebounds
Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell as investors weighed the prospects of a shaky ceasefire and only a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The main traded oil futures contracts were hovering around $100 a barrel.
Beirut bans weapons
Lebanon’s cabinet instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions, a day after Israeli strikes across the country, including in the heart of the capital. Information Minister Paul Morcos said the decision prompted objections from Hezbollah’s two ministers in the cabinet.
Iran rules out enrichment restrictions
The head of Iran’s nuclear energy agency ruled out any restrictions on the country’s enrichment of uranium, saying the demand by the United States and Israel “will not come true.”
EU slams Hormuz tolls
The EU said freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with “no payment or toll whatsoever,” after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships through. “International law provides for the freedom of navigation, which means…basically no payment or toll whatsoever,” European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni told a press conference.
China on Lebanon
A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said “Lebanon’s sovereignty and security should not be violated. The safety of civilian lives and property must be guaranteed” and that Beijing was urging “a cooling down of the regional situation.”
UK on Lebanon
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said “we do strongly want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon.” “I’m deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday,” she told Sky News.
France on Lebanon
France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, condemned Israel’s continuing strikes on Lebanon, calling them “all the more unacceptable as they undermine the temporary ceasefire reached yesterday between the United States and Iran.”
Lebanon day of mourning
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Thursday a national day of mourning after Israeli strikes killed at least 182 people and wounded 890, according to the health ministry. The strikes were Israel’s heaviest on neighbouring Lebanon — including in densely packed central Beirut — since Hezbollah joined the war in early March.
© 2024 AFP
