Itamaraty Condemns Israeli Attacks in Lebanon and Warns of Risk of Larger Conflict

247 - In a statement on Monday (23), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil condemned "in the strongest terms" the Israeli airstrikes against civilian areas in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley, which alone on Monday caused at least 492 deaths and left over 1,600 injured.

Itamaraty also deplored statements from Israeli authorities in favor of military operations and the occupation of parts of Lebanese territory and expressed "grave concern" over Israeli government's calls for Lebanese civilians to evacuate their homes in those regions.

"Brazil renews its call to the parties involved to immediately cease the attacks in order to halt the concerning escalation of tensions, which threatens to lead the region to a large-scale conflict with severe negative impacts on civilian populations," the statement read.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday that they had hit over 1,100 targets belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah movement in Lebanon over the past 24 hours. The Israeli Air Force launched several attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, witnesses told Sputnik on Monday.

The target of the Israeli attack was senior Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki, according to the Times of Israel, citing information provided by security sources to Israeli media.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari specified that the Israeli attacks were aimed only at locations where Hezbollah stores its weapons and ammunition.

The Palestinian movement Hamas, which is waging a war against Israel in the Gaza Strip and is an ally of Hezbollah, said on Monday that the massive Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which killed hundreds of people, constitute a war crime. Hamas also expressed solidarity with the people of Lebanon and the Hezbollah movement.

Between September 17 and 18, pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in various parts of Lebanon, killing over 40 people and injuring nearly 3,500 others. The attack was also condemned by Itamaraty. It is still unclear what caused the simultaneous explosion of thousands of devices. Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities blame Israel for the blasts. Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied the country's involvement in the incidents.

The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters have been exchanging fire almost daily in areas along the border.