Lebanese PM seeks Pakistan’s support against Israeli strikes

ISLAMABAD: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged Pakistan to take immediate action to help protect Lebanon and its citizens amid escalating tensions in the region.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the request came during a telephone call between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his Lebanese counterpart, in which they discussed the deteriorating regional situation in detail.

During the conversation, Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned Israeli actions against Lebanon and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He assured that Pakistan remains committed to promoting peace in the region, including efforts to advance negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The statement added that Prime Minister Mikati appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and emphasized the importance of including Lebanon in the ceasefire process to prevent further attacks like the recent Israeli strikes.

Foreign news agencies reported that Mikati stressed full compliance with the ceasefire, noting that Lebanon is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

The call comes after recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon claimed more than 200 lives, escalating the situation further.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel maintain that the current ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, with Israeli leadership stating that operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah will continue.

Iran’s parliament speaker, however, warned that excluding Lebanon from the ceasefire is unacceptable and insisted that Tehran considers Lebanon an essential part of any potential agreement.