Israel Escalates, Lebanon Requests Vatican Intervention
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has warned that Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon would constitute a grave mistake, whilst announcing that Madrid will send €9 million (US$10.5 million) in humanitarian aid to Beirut. Albares also demanded that Hizbollah cease firing rockets into Israel.
He added that his country’s relations with Washington have normalised following Trump’s threat to sever ties with Spain over its refusal to permit US military forces to use Spanish bases for operations against Iran.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raji has requested Vatican intervention to help protect Christian villages along Lebanon’s southern border amid ongoing Israeli attacks. In a telephone conversation with Vatican Secretary of State Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Foreign Ministry stated that Raji described the “difficult conditions” faced by border communities amid ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon.
Raji requested Vatican mediation to conduct “all necessary diplomatic contacts to halt escalation in Lebanon and prevent the expulsion of residents from their land”.
Previously, it was reported that an Israeli attack killed Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest Father Pierre al-Rahi in southern Lebanon on Monday, 9 March.
Turkey’s government stated that NATO air defence systems successfully shot down a second ballistic missile launched from Iran that entered Turkish airspace.
The Middle East conflict has escalated, with the US and Israel launching air strikes against Iran as Mojtaba Khamenei is formally appointed as Supreme Leader, succeeding his father.
Alarms and sirens have sounded almost continuously in Haifa and communities in northern Israel.
Aoun also called for international logistical support for the Lebanese army.
An oil embargo by Arab nations in the OPEC oil cartel against countries supporting Israel during the October 1973 war caused oil prices to surge dramatically.
Sanchez has further criticised US and Israeli strikes against Iran, describing them as a major blunder. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emphasised that Spain will not participate in attacks on Iran and has banned US use of military bases, despite threats of trade embargoes from Trump.
French President Macron has expressed solidarity with Spain following Trump’s threat to cut off trade due to Spain’s refusal to permit military bases to be used for strikes on Iran.
Diplomatic tensions have escalated following Spain’s open rejection of US-Israeli strikes against Iran and its defiance of trade threats from US President Donald Trump.