Lebanon was drawn into the US-Israel war against Iran after the Iranian-backed Shiite fundamentalist militia "Hezbollah" fired rockets at Israel.
AFP reported that according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Abbas Araghchi discussed "the Zionist regime's (referring to Israel) violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon" during a phone call with Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir.
Iranian media and Al Jazeera quoted Iranian officials and informed sources as reporting that Iran is ready to withdraw from the ceasefire and retaliate due to Israel's bombing of Lebanon.
Tasnim News Agency reported that informed sources revealed: "If Israel continues to violate the ceasefire and attack Lebanon, Iran will withdraw from the agreement."
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards also vowed via the messaging app Telegram to "punish Israel's atrocities in Lebanon and violations of ceasefire conditions."
Al Jazeera also quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying: "The ceasefire covers the region, and Israel is known for breaking promises; only bullets can deter them."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the ceasefire applies everywhere, including Lebanon. He also announced that Pakistan would host US and Iranian delegations later this week for talks on related issues.
However, Israel insisted that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire. The Israeli military stated that it launched "the largest coordinated strike" across Lebanon today.
A spokesperson for the Lebanese Ministry of Health told Reuters that Israeli attacks across Lebanon today killed 89 people and injured 700. He added that among the dead in southern Lebanon were 12 doctors.
Sharif said today that there have been reports of violations of the US-Iran ceasefire and called on all countries to abide by the ceasefire agreement. On the same day, Iraqi authorities condemned Israel, saying that the airstrikes on Lebanon showed Israel's deliberate undermining of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement. (Compiled by: Yang Chao-yen) 1150409
FACT BOX
- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: regulation