Israeli attacks on Lebanon are wrong, they must stop: British Prime Minister Starmer

❐ International Desk

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon “wrong” and called for an immediate end to them, in an interview during a three-day visit to the Gulf region.

Starmer said this was not just a technical issue, but a question of policy – where saving innocent lives was paramount. He said the UK had not yet received the full details of the ceasefire agreement, making it difficult to say for sure whether the attacks breached the agreement.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, about 303 people were killed in Wednesday’s attack. Iran’s deputy foreign minister called the attack a “serious violation” of the ceasefire. However, Israel has claimed that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the rapid start of talks with Lebanon.

Starmer has already arrived in Qatar after visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain as part of a Gulf tour, during which he spoke with US President Donald Trump.

The two leaders discussed reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz and quickly restoring shipping traffic. A large portion of global energy transport passes through this route, which had been virtually paralyzed by recent tensions.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper opposed imposing any tolls or restrictions on this waterway, saying it would violate freedom of international navigation.

Analysts say the situation in the Middle East has become more complicated due to Israeli-Iranian tensions and attacks on Lebanon. Disruptions in energy supplies have also led to a rise in global oil prices, which is raising the cost of living in various countries.

Meanwhile, various countries, including the United Kingdom, are insisting on keeping the ceasefire in place and including Lebanon in it, so that the conflict does not spread further.