London, June 1 — UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for an immediate end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon while pressing for the full disarmament of Hezbollah, in a forceful public intervention on X (formerly Twitter).
Cooper said she was deeply concerned by the rising violence and its humanitarian consequences, arguing the Israeli escalation had “killed and displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and eroded space for diplomacy.” She added that “Hizballah must end attacks on Israel and disarm,” and urged all parties to respect ceasefires and engage in good-faith negotiations.
The British statement formed part of a growing wave of international criticism after renewed fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of “brutal aggression,” saying Israeli forces had advanced into Lebanese territory, flattened southern villages and historical sites, and directed strikes at civilian areas that caused mass displacement. Aboul Gheit called the actions a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international law and urged the UN Security Council to intervene and enforce Resolution 1701, the 2006 mandate that sought a full cessation of hostilities and Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Germany also warned that the expanding ground offensive risked dragging the region into a deeper crisis. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the Israeli army’s advance into southern Lebanon raised serious concern and cautioned that any further escalation would worsen humanitarian suffering and trigger new waves of displacement across Lebanon.
The United Kingdom intensified Western diplomatic pressure for restraint. Hamish Falconer, the UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said the broader escalation was undermining diplomatic efforts and causing unacceptable harm to civilians. Falconer reiterated that Hezbollah must end attacks and disarm, urged respect for the ceasefire, and called for continued U.S.-led talks.
Qatar publicly condemned Israel’s ground operations in southern Lebanon as a dangerous escalation and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international humanitarian law. Doha urged the international community and global organisations to pressure Israel to stop what it described as repeated aggressions and to uphold international legal norms. Qatar also engaged diplomatically with Lebanon: its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, spoke by phone with Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri to discuss bilateral cooperation and the latest developments affecting Lebanon.
These diplomatic protests followed an on-the-ground intensification of military activity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces had captured Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon and said he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to “expand the incursion”. In a televised address, Netanyahu framed the operation as reclaiming terrain and breaking a psychological barrier, saying his forces had crossed the Litani River, taken dominant positions on the Beaufort Ridge, and were prepared to deepen operations in areas formerly under Hezbollah control.
Netanyahu also provided casualty and target figures for Hezbollah fighters, claiming that since the start of the campaign thousands of Hezbollah militants had been killed. The IDF released statements and operational details on Telegram describing preparatory airstrikes, artillery and tank fire, and engineering work to secure high ground and dismantle what it called terrorist infrastructure. The Israeli military said the aims included expanding a Forward Defence Line, degrading Hezbollah capabilities, and removing launch sites used against Israeli communities; it reported operations near Nabatieh, a key Hezbollah stronghold.
The announcement came amid wider Israeli military plans. Netanyahu said Israel was continuing operations on multiple fronts — Syria, Gaza and Lebanon — and indicated a directive to increase Israeli control in parts of the Gaza Strip. He noted progress in Gaza, saying Israeli forces currently controlled a growing share of the territory and that the military would advance incrementally toward a stated goal.
Reports cited by aid agencies and media outlets indicated maps distributed by the IDF to humanitarian organisations showed Israeli control of a substantial portion of Gaza, a development that humanitarian groups warn would increasingly compress nearly two million Palestinians into smaller areas of the besieged enclave, with severe humanitarian implications.
As diplomatic pressures and public condemnations mount, calls continue for restraint, protection of civilians and renewed negotiations. International actors including the UK, Germany, the Arab League and Gulf states are urging respect for ceasefires and adherence to international law while some governments press the UN Security Council to take more decisive action.
(This report is based on syndicated material and statements issued by governments and organisations; the publisher is not responsible for independent verification of all claims.)
