Following major European countries that criticized Israel for continuing airstrikes on Lebanon even after the cease-fire between the United States and Iran, the Japanese government expressed concern about Israel conducting a ground operation in Lebanon.

On the 10th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in the name of Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, saying, “In a situation in which the international community is calling for restraint, our country (Japan) expresses strong concern that Israel is carrying out a ground operation in Lebanon,” and “We strongly demand that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon be respected.”

The ministry demanded of both Israel and the pro-Iran armed faction Hezbollah that they “immediately cease hostilities to prevent the situation from worsening further,” and at the same time “comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, and fully implement relevant resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 1701.” The ministry also stated, ”We strongly urge maximum restraint to avoid further escalation of war and to engage seriously in a diplomatic solution“.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was adopted in 2006 to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah. It provides for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and stipulates that, south of the Litani River in Lebanon, only the Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), excluding Hezbollah, shall be stationed.

However, the ministry also included language indicating that both Israel and Hezbollah bear responsibility for the continuing clashes, stating concern that “since Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2, attacks by both sides have intensified, numerous civilian casualties have occurred, and major damage has been inflicted on civilian infrastructure.”

Major European countries, Australia, and the United Nations have strongly criticized Israel, saying that, through airstrikes on Lebanon that have caused numerous civilian casualties, it is threatening the two-week cease-fire. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in a Radio France Inter interview on the 9th (local time), condemned Israel for airstrikes on Lebanon, stating, “The destruction of the Lebanese state will not topple Hezbollah and will instead strengthen it.” French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron said on the 8th (local time) that he had conveyed to President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian his view that the cease-fire agreement should also include Lebanon.

Also, according to the UK daily the Guardian, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on the social media platform X a message publicly criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Israel for disregarding the two-week cease-fire agreement, and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also argued that the cease-fire should apply to Lebanon. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement by his spokesperson that Israel’s airstrikes on Lebanon pose a “serious threat” to the cease-fire.

On the same day, the Japanese Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences in the statement over the deaths of three UNIFIL members on the 29th30th of last month, saying, “Attacks on UN personnel can never be tolerated.”