EU condemns Israel's 'heavy-handed' response in Lebanon, urges immediate halt

2026-03-09 - 21:03

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas delivered a sharp rebuke of Israel's military actions in Lebanon Monday, describing the response as "heavy-handed" and demanding an immediate cessation of operations. In a strongly worded statement, Kallas acknowledged Hezbollah's provocative actions while warning that Israel's retaliation risks dragging Lebanon into a broader conflict with severe humanitarian consequences. Brussels: Hezbollah must disarm, Israel must stop Kallas condemned Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel in support of Iran, stating the group "endangers the entire region" and risks turning Lebanon into another front in the expanding war. "Hezbollah must disarm and cease all actions against Israel," she declared, while affirming Israel's right to self-defense in accordance with international law. However, she balanced this with sharp criticism of Israeli military operations: "At the same time, Israel's response has been heavy-handed. Its retaliation is causing mass displacement and is further destabilizing a fragile situation. It risks drawing Lebanon and its people into a war that is not theirs, with severe humanitarian consequences." Mass displacement and civilian toll mount Kallas urged Israel to halt its operations on Lebanese territory and emphasized that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Her statement highlighted the escalating humanitarian crisis, with Israeli airstrikes having killed more than 400 people and displaced thousands across Lebanon since March 2. The EU's top diplomat warned that intensifying hostilities could further destabilize the country and increase the risk of broader regional confrontation. Call for ceasefire and diplomatic resolution "Diplomacy and a return to the ceasefire offer the best chance of averting Lebanon from sliding into chaos," Kallas said, calling on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. She reaffirmed EU support for the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stressing that the safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be guaranteed. The statement comes as cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah intensify, following Hezbollah's entry into the conflict in solidarity with Iran after US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 1,200 others since Feb. 28.