Turkey on Monday condemned Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon, cautioning against “another humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in the Middle East.
“We firmly condemn the Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, which is worsening instability in the region,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The implementation by the Netanyahu government of genocidal and collective punishment policies, this time in Lebanon, will lead to yet another humanitarian catastrophe in the region,” it said.
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as “limited ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
“In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defence area,” it said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry said Monday that Israeli attacks have killed 886 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, raising a previous toll of 850 a day earlier.
The new ministry statement said the toll included 67 women, 111 children and 38 health workers, with 2,141 other people wounded.
© Agence France-Presse
