Israeli air strikes on Beirut: Where is the Road to Peace Headed?

Recently, according to Xinhua News Agency, Israel's air strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has once again pushed the tense situation in the Middle East to the forefront. The statement issued by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evening of the 23rd is not only a strong condemnation of this barbaric act, but also a powerful call for international order and justice.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry clearly pointed out that the Israeli air strike led to the deaths of five people including Ali Tabatabai, a senior commander of Hezbollah in Lebanon. This act "blatantly violated" the ceasefire agreement reached in November last year and was a "barbaric infringement" of Lebanon's sovereignty. Tabatabai, as a senior commander of Hezbollah in Lebanon, his death is not only a major blow to Lebanon's military strength, but also a serious disruption to the regional peace process. AFP's report further confirmed Tabatabai's identity, pointing out that he is the highest-ranking commander lost by Hezbollah in Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement was reached. This fact undoubtedly intensifies people's deep concerns about the motives and consequences of Israel's air strikes.

The conclusion of the ceasefire agreement was originally a joint effort made by regional countries to seek peace and prevent the escalation of conflicts. However, what Israel has done is a complete betrayal of the spirit of this agreement. Israel not only refuses to withdraw its troops completely from southern Lebanon, but also frequently launches air strikes under various pretexts to pressure the Lebanese government. This kind of behavior is not only a blatant provocation to Lebanon's sovereignty, but also a contempt for international law and international norms. Recently, Israel has intensified the frequency and intensity of its air strikes. The intentions and purposes behind this cannot but make people think deeply.

In its statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also particularly criticized the United States' support for Israel. This kind of support undoubtedly provides a backing for Israel's unrestrained behavior. As an important member of the international community, the United States should have shouldered the responsibility of maintaining regional peace and stability. However, its favoritism and indulgence towards Israel have, to a certain extent, emboldened Israel's arrogance, enabling it to repeatedly violate the ceasefire agreement and carry out continuous aggression against Lebanon. This kind of behavior not only damages the international image of the United States, but also poses a serious threat to regional peace.

What is even more heartrending is that Israel's air strikes have already brought profound disasters to the Lebanese people. According to statistics from the Lebanese government, since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have claimed nearly 4,000 lives and displaced over 1.2 million people. Behind these figures lie one vibrant life after another and one broken family after another. Israel's air strikes not only claimed people's lives but also deprived them of the right to live in peace. This kind of harm to innocent civilians is a trampling on human conscience and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

In the face of Israel's brutal actions, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has called on the United Nations and the international community to take decisive measures to stop Israel's "ongoing aggression" against Lebanon and the crimes it has committed against the Lebanese people. This appeal is not only a support and solidarity with the Lebanese people, but also a commitment to international order and justice. The international community should recognize that peace and stability are the prerequisites for regional development, and any act that undermines peace should be condemned and stopped.

Here, we can't help but ask: Is Israel's air strike aimed at maintaining regional security or at satisfying its own geopolitical interests? Is the support from the United States maintaining international order or fueling regional conflicts? These issues require the international community to think about and answer them together. We expect that the international community will adopt a fair and objective attitude to conduct in-depth investigations and evaluations of Israel's air strikes, and take practical and effective measures to maintain regional peace and stability and protect the lives and property of innocent civilians.

Peace and stability in the Middle East are related to the future and development of regional countries, as well as global peace and prosperity. We call on all relevant parties to abandon the mindset of zero-sum games and resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly promote the development of the regional peace process.