BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The European Union on Saturday 
condemned Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and asked it to respect a 
ceasefire with the militant group Hezbollah.

Israel conducted fresh attacks in southern Lebanon on Thursday, claiming to 
target the Iran-backed organisation and accusing the group of rearming.

"The EU calls on Israel to cease all actions that violate resolution 1701 and 
the ceasefire agreement reached a year ago in November 2024," the EU's 
foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni stated.

"At the same time, we urge all Lebanese actors and especially Hezbollah to 
refrain from any measures or responses that could further inflame the 
situation," he added.

"Focus by all parties must be on preserving the ceasefire and the progress 
achieved so far."

The Israeli army had previously told residents of four villages to evacuate 
buildings, warning that it planned to target Hezbollah's military 
infrastructure.

The Lebanese army has accused Israel of seeking to "undermine Lebanon's 
stability" with Thursday's strikes and to "prevent the completion of the 
army's deployment" in line with the ceasefire.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned the Israeli strikes, as has 
Iran, which on Friday called them "savage" attacks and appealed for the 
international community to intervene.

Lebanon and Israel are still technically in a state of war, but all the 
recent armed conflicts with Israel were fought by Hezbollah, not the Lebanese 
military.

Hezbollah was the only movement in Lebanon that refused to disarm after the 
1975-1990 civil war, first claiming it had a duty to liberate territory 
occupied by Israel, and then to continue defending the country.

The group is backed by Iran, which also fought its own war against Israel 
earlier this year.