Mark Carney joins call for Israel not to invade Lebanon

“The humanitarian situation in Lebanon, including ongoing mass displacement, is already deeply alarming.”

After Israel and the United States launched their attack on Iran in late February, the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.

Israel has responded with a bombing campaign across southern Lebanon, including in Beirut. It has also moved some ground forces into southern Lebanon amid speculation there may be a larger Israeli invasion ahead.

Carney and the other world leaders called for talks to prevent any kind of broader conflict. 

“We are gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Lebanon and call for meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution. We strongly support initiatives to facilitate talks and urge for immediate de-escalation,” read the statement.

Hezbollah is a listed terrorist entity in Canada, but in Lebanon it is a militia with significant control over the southern part of the country. It has seats in the country’s parliament and operates social services. The statement Carney signed called for the terrorist group to lay down its arms. 

“Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and the targeting of civilians must cease and they must disarm,” it said. “We condemn Hezbollah’s decision to join Iran in hostilities, which further jeopardizes regional peace and security.”

The statement called on all sides to respect international law, condemned attacks on civilians and said the Lebanese people should not be caught in the crossfire. 

“We stand in solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, who have been unwillingly drawn into conflict.”

The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump asked other countries to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. Iran has moved to block the narrow strait, preventing oil and gas tankers and other ships from getting through the choke point and into the open ocean. 

Several countries including the U.K. and Germany have already declined that request, and Trump complained Monday afternoon that NATO countries were not helping.

“We spent trillions and trillions of dollars on NATO to defend other countries and I always said if it ever comes time to defend us, they’re not going to be there,” he said at the White House. 

Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada would not be involved in the offensive operations against Iran, but didn’t rule out participation in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. 

“The question of the Strait of Hormuz is one that is evolving. It’s changing. It’s hard to get hard information to be honest with you,” he said Monday morning. 

McGuinty said Canada could still be involved in helping to defend the Gulf states that Iran has attacked since the war began. 

“The question of assistance to neighbouring Gulf countries is one that we’re considering,” he said. “It will depend on the nature of any kind of ask. It will depend on the nature of what assistance we can provide for operational reasons. I can’t go into any more detail than that.”