Iran condemns deadly Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut

TEHRAN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — The deadly Israeli airstrike targeting a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut was a “terrorist aggression” against Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and a flagrant violation of international law, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said.
In a statement published Friday night, Kanaani urged the international community to condemn the “brutal and vicious” airstrike on Friday killing many civilians, including women and children, which was launched shortly after Israel’s “terrorist” action of exploding communication devices across Lebanon earlier this week.
Contrary to a global call for a Gaza ceasefire, Israel sought to further expand the conflict and escalate regional tensions, posing a “conspicuous threat” to international peace and security, he said.
Iran offers its decisive support for and shows its solidarity with Lebanon’s people, government and resistance groups, he added.
Tension along the Israel-Lebanon border has escalated sharply following communication device explosions across Lebanon allegedly conducted by Israel that killed 37 and injured 2,931, as well as an Israeli airstrike on Friday targeting a building in the Jamous area in the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed at least 31 and injured 66.
These developments marked the latest escalation of ongoing conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border that began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel’s retaliatory artillery fire and airstrikes into southeastern Lebanon. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties and displaced tens of thousands on both sides. ■