Photo: AP
India on Friday voiced concern over reports of civilian casualties in Lebanon amid a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The Ministry of External Affairs indicated that the Indian embassy in Lebanon was in touch with members of the Indian community to ensure their safety.
The MEA noted that a cessation of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, had been part of Iran’s 10-point proposal.
Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the truce on Wednesday, Israeli strikes reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon as operations against Hezbollah intensified.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was deeply concerned about reports of significant civilian casualties in Lebanon and described the situation as troubling.
He highlighted that, as a troop-contributing nation to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), India had a strong stake in the country’s peace and stability, Indian Express reported.
Jaiswal reiterated that India consistently emphasises the protection of civilians as a top priority and stressed the importance of adhering to international law, as well as respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. He added that the Indian embassy in Lebanon continued to maintain close contact with the Indian community regarding their safety.
The United States has maintained that halting hostilities in Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire arrangement.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had authorised direct talks with Lebanon next week aimed at disarming Hezbollah. According to a senior official from the office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, such discussions would proceed only if a ceasefire was in place beforehand.