World slams Israel for ‘attacking Lebanon,’ even though focus is Hezbollah

Israel has maintained that its military operations are directed at Hezbollah rather than Lebanon itself.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel intensified airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Wednesday after a ceasefire with Iran was announced, prompting criticism from world leaders despite Israeli officials emphasizing the campaign’s focus on the terror group.

Pakistan emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the strikes, reflecting its role in brokering the ceasefire between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other.

US President Donald Trump, however, defended the operation, telling PBS Newshour on Wednesday that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire proposal.

The United Arab Emirates reiterated its “solidarity” with the Lebanese government and its support for “Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” while expressing concern over “continued escalation” and the potential impact on “regional security and stability,” CNN reported.

Israel has maintained that its military operations are directed at Hezbollah rather than Lebanon itself, noting that the Lebanese government has taken part in efforts aimed at disarming the group.

On 5 September 2025, the Lebanese government met to review a Lebanese Army plan to place all weapons under state control, with an emphasis on Hezbollah’s disarmament, and ultimately approved the proposal.

Addressing claims that it had violated a previous ceasefire with Lebanon, Israel said strikes on terror targets remain necessary due to the Lebanese Army’s inability to fully disarm Hezbollah.

Criticism from European leaders followed a similar pattern, with statements that did not distinguish between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to convey solidarity over what he described as “unjustified and unacceptable attacks,” adding that he had summoned the Israeli ambassador and stating, “We want to avoid there being a second Gaza.”

French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the strikes as “indiscriminate,” while UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the attacks were “deeply damaging” and that Britain wants to “see Lebanon included in the ceasefire.”

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “contempt for life and international law is intolerable.”