Canada has issued a strong condemnation of Israel's announced plans to occupy southern Lebanon, emphasizing that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected as tensions escalate in the region. The statement comes as Israeli forces prepare for a significant ground invasion into Lebanese territory.
Israeli military preparations indicate plans to invade and establish control over territory extending up to 30 kilometers inside Lebanon's southern border. This development occurs against a backdrop of mounting casualties, with Lebanese authorities reporting at least 1,072 deaths and nearly 3,000 wounded since Israeli attacks intensified this month.
The conflict has created a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over one million people across southern and eastern Lebanon, including areas of the capital Beirut. International observers are raising urgent warnings about the deteriorating humanitarian situation as the prospect of a ground incursion becomes increasingly likely.
Canada's Ministry of Global Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday expressing solidarity with the Lebanese government and its people, while calling for adherence to international law by all parties involved in the conflict.
"We urge all parties to protect civilians, refrain from attacks on infrastructure, health workers, and peacekeepers," the ministry declared in its official statement.
International concern is mounting, with France joining Canada in opposing the planned occupation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP that Israeli authorities should refrain from ground operations, citing the potential for major humanitarian consequences that would worsen Lebanon's already critical situation.
These diplomatic interventions follow Israel's announcement that its military will establish control over south Lebanese territory extending to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the military would control this security zone and prevent displaced Lebanese residents from returning to homes south of the river until security conditions for northern Israeli residents could be guaranteed.
Drawing comparisons to operations in Gaza, Katz indicated that Israeli forces would follow tactical models used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun, two cities that sustained extensive damage during the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory.
The rhetoric has escalated further, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocating for formal annexation of southern Lebanon and declaring that Israel's new border should extend to the Litani River.
Israeli military preparations have included strategic strikes on infrastructure, including bridges spanning the Litani River and residential areas near the border. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun characterized the bombing of the Qasmiyeh Bridge on Sunday as a clear indicator of imminent ground invasion plans.
Recent casualty reports from Lebanese health authorities indicate continued violence, with nine people killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Wednesday. Four fatalities occurred in the southern town of Adloun, while two people died in strikes on the Mieh Mieh refugee camp. An earlier attack on Habboush resulted in three deaths and 18 wounded.
The conflict has also affected northern Israel, where Israeli authorities reported one woman killed on Tuesday during rocket attacks from Lebanon, as air raid sirens regularly force residents into safety shelters.
The developing situation represents a significant escalation in regional tensions, with international diplomatic pressure mounting against the proposed occupation while humanitarian concerns continue to intensify across the affected areas.
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