British, Lebanese prime ministers urge immediate ceasefire with Israel

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati have jointly called for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and the conflicting parties.

This appeal came during a meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

In a statement released by 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Starmer expressed his heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of life in recent weeks. The two leaders discussed the escalating tensions in Lebanon and emphasized the critical need for an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to the ongoing conflict.

A new escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah erupted following a series of explosions involving communication devices in Lebanon on September 17 and 18. Hezbollah blamed the Jewish state for these acts of sabotage.  

In response, on September 23, Israel launched a military operation called “Arrows of the North” targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The operation involved extensive airstrikes on the movement's military facilities. The stated objective is to establish a secure environment along Israel's northern border, allowing tens of thousands of residents who were evacuated due to ongoing shelling to return home. This shelling has been a continuous threat from Hezbollah units since October 2023.

By Vafa Guliyeva