Canada condemns Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and pledges new aid

Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai, has condemned Israel’s military presence in Lebanon, describing it as an ‘unlawful invasion’ and emphasizing Lebanon’s right to sovereignty.

During a visit to the country, Sarai announced three new humanitarian programs aimed at supporting women and vulnerable families. These initiatives bring Canada’s total assistance to Lebanon this year to over 71 million Canadian dollars ($50.23 million). Over the last decade, Canada has provided approximately 800 million Canadian dollars ($575 million) in aid to the nation.

The diplomatic visit comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. The war, which escalated following rocket fire into northern Israel in March, has resulted in over 4,000 deaths and significant destruction in southern Lebanon. The United Nations reports that approximately 360,000 people remain displaced due to the fighting.