Canada and France call on Israel to halt invasion plans in southern Lebanon as attacks continue, displacing millions and causing significant casualties.
Canada's Ministry of Global Affairs stated on Wednesday that it strongly condemns Israel's plans to occupy southern Lebanon, stressing that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated amid preparations for a major ground invasion.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Israeli authorities to refrain from such operations, warning that they would have major humanitarian consequences and exacerbate Lebanon's already dire situation, as reported by AFP.
Israel's Military Preparations
Israel announced plans for its military to take control of territory up to 30km inside Lebanon's southern border, up to the Litani River, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that displaced Lebanese residents would not return until security is guaranteed for northern Israel.
The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon has reached at least 1,072 people, with nearly 3,000 wounded since the start of the month, and more than a million people displaced due to strikes in the south, east, and Beirut.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel's official annexation of southern Lebanon, advocating for a new border at the Litani River in an interview.
Recent Israeli strikes have targeted infrastructure, including bridges over the Litani River and homes near the border, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun describing an attack on the Qasmiyeh Bridge as a prelude to invasion.
On Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported that nine people were killed in the latest attacks, including four in Adloun, two in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp, and three in Habboush, with additional injuries.
