17 nations call for Lebanon to be included in de-escalation efforts

The foreign ministers of the U.K., Australia, France, Sweden and other countries called on Tuesday for Lebanon to be included in regional de-escalation efforts, and said they welcome direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.

"Direct negotiations can pave the way to bring lasting security for Lebanon and Israel as well as the region," the foreign ministers said in a joint statement. "We stand ready to support them. We therefore call upon all parties to urgently deescalate and seize the opportunity offered by the ceasefire between the United States and Iran."

The foreign ministers – also from Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain – condemned Hezbollah's attacks against Israel, as well as the wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon last Wednesday that killed hundreds of people.

They also said they "commend the decision of the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah's military activities, as well as its decision to reinforce the full imposition of state authority over Beirut and to have the sole monopoly on weapons, and we encourage full and swift implementation."