• Calls it a blatant violation of international law and Lebanon’s sovereignty, seeks UN intervention
• Israel warns it will keep striking Lebanon until Hezbollah disarmed
• Jamaat chief seeks unified response to Gaza killings

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Friday unequivocally condemned Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon, calling the attacks a “blatant violation of international law” and a threat to regional stability.

“These attacks, launched on the eve of Eidul Azha, constitute a blatant violation of international law, sovereignty of Lebanon, and the ceasefire agreement of November 2024,” a spokesperson for Foreign Office said in a statement.

The spokesperson added that the “reckless use of force threatens civilian lives, fuels regional instability, and undermines efforts for lasting peace”.

“We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations and ceasefire mediators, to take immediate action to hold Israeli occupying forces accountable and prevent further escalation,” the spokesperson said.

The condemnation came after Israeli forces struck what they described as underground Hezbollah drone factories in south Beirut and the Lebanese village of Ain Qana on Thursday, following an evacuation warning issued on the eve of Eidul Azha.

The attacks marked the fourth and heaviest bombardment of the area since the November ceasefire, sending thousands of residents fleeing.

AFP photographers reported widespread destruction, with residents inspecting smouldering debris.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported around a dozen strikes, and Health Minister Rakan Nassereldine said several people were wounded by glass shrapnel.

Lebanese leaders denounced the strikes as a “flagrant” violation of the ceasefire. President Joseph Aoun condemned the “Israeli aggression” and “flagrant violation of an international accord... on the eve of a sacred religious festival,” while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the attacks a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.

Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar urged “all Lebanese political forces... to translate their statements of condemnation into concrete action,” including diplomatic pressure to halt Israeli attacks.

Israel threatens more strikes

Israel, meanwhile, warned it would continue its campaign until Hezbollah is disarmed. “There will be no calm in Beirut, and no order or stability in Lebanon, without security for the State of Israel,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

“Agreements must be honoured and if you do not do what is required, we will continue to act, and with great force.”

Under the November truce, Hezbollah fighters were to withdraw north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure in the south, while Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. However, Israel has maintained a presence in “strategic” areas and continued strikes.

A Lebanese military official said the ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes the US, France, and UN peacekeepers, received no warning before the Israeli evacuation order. The official said Israeli warning shots prevented the Lebanese army from inspecting one of the sites.

Conference of like-minded states sought

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman called for a convention of Islamic and like-minded countries to send a strong message against what he called the “US-sponsored Israeli genocide in Gaza”.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Rehman blamed US President Donald Trump for the Gaza violence and urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir to play a leading role. He said Pakistan could lead the Islamic bloc, adding that “Russia, China and several other important players in the global arena were supporting Pakistan and the current situation could be used effectively for the much-needed peace in Gaza”.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2025