Brussels – Beirut: Europe and the Arabs

The European Union stated that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon presents a renewed opportunity to end the conflict. It stressed the need to adhere to the terms, reject any additional conditions imposed by Hezbollah, and emphasized the necessity of an Israeli withdrawal. The EU added that the Lebanese people are paying a heavy price. On the ground, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed that the army will continue its operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah to eliminate what he described as security threats. Israeli aircraft also launched airstrikes on areas in southern Lebanon, coinciding with artillery shelling targeting the Wadi Barghaz area in the Hasbaya district.

In response, Hezbollah announced a series of attacks targeting Israeli army positions and troop concentrations in southern Lebanon using drones, rockets, and artillery shells. Hezbollah stated that these operations were in retaliation for what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and ongoing attacks on Lebanese villages and towns. A statement issued in Brussels by the office of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas reads: “The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States, between Lebanon and Israel represents a renewed opportunity to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace and security. The EU trusts that Israel and Lebanon will continue direct negotiations in a constructive spirit. We urge all parties to fully adhere to the terms of the agreement and reject any additional preconditions from Hezbollah.

All military operations must cease immediately. Hezbollah must withdraw from the southern Litani sector. The EU also calls on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory.

The EU will continue to support the Lebanese government and stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The Lebanese and Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security in their homes, free from the threat of renewed conflict. The Lebanese people are paying a heavy and unacceptable price—humanitarian, social, and economic—as a result of the ongoing escalation and airstrikes.

The EU’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces remains a crucial instrument in supporting the Lebanese government’s efforts to ensure the state’s monopoly on the use of force throughout Lebanon.” The new assistance measure approved by the European Peace Facility, amounting to €100 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces on June 4, will directly contribute to strengthening their capacity to carry out their mission.

The European Union calls for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls on Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to disarm non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah. All parties must respect international law, including international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.

The European Union reiterates its full support for UNIFIL and its mandate and strongly condemns all attacks against its personnel, including the killing of another UNIFIL peacekeeper in the attacks of June 4—the seventh peacekeeper killed since March—and expresses its deepest condolences to his family.

The killing of peacekeepers is a violation of international law and must be met with full accountability. The continued presence of the United Nations in Lebanon in a post-UNIFIL context remains essential to ensuring the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. In this context, we look forward to constructive discussions on the options presented by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Security Council.