India on Friday voiced serious concern over the high number of civilian casualties in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have carried out sustained airstrikes over the past month. New Delhi stressed the importance of protecting civilians, upholding international law and respecting the sovereignty of nations.
The escalation began after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, following which Israeli forces launched an offensive in southern Lebanon and targeted key infrastructure such as bridges. The ongoing bombardment and ground operations have resulted in around 1,800 deaths and 5,873 injuries in Lebanon. A particularly intense wave of strikes on Wednesday alone left 303 people dead, raising fears about the stability of the recently announced ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is deeply troubled by reports of civilian casualties. He noted that as a contributor to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, India remains committed to peace and stability in the region and views the current situation with serious concern.
While he did not directly mention Israel, his remarks were seen as an uncommon expression of criticism regarding developments in the region. Jaiswal reiterated that adherence to international law and respect for territorial integrity are essential, adding that India has consistently placed the protection of civilians at the forefront of its position.
He also confirmed that the Indian embassy in Beirut is in regular contact with the Indian community in Lebanon, which includes about 1,000 people, to ensure their safety.
Recent developments in Lebanon
Israeli forces carried out strikes on more than 100 locations across Lebanon within a short span on Wednesday, despite the ceasefire agreement that was expected to ease tensions in the region. The scale of casualties, with over 300 deaths and more than 1,100 injuries in a single day, marks one of the deadliest episodes in the country since the end of its civil war in 1990.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticised the strikes, calling them a violation of the ceasefire and warning that they could derail ongoing diplomatic efforts. The conflict has displaced over 1.1 million people in Lebanon over the past month.
India monitoring the situation closely
India is closely tracking developments in West Asia and maintaining engagement with countries in the region. As part of this effort, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Qatar on April 9 and 10, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to the United Arab Emirates on April 11 and 12 to strengthen ties and secure energy cooperation.
During his visit, Puri conveyed India’s support to Qatar’s leadership, including Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Qatar has reaffirmed its commitment to remain a reliable energy partner for India. The country is India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
India is also assisting neighbouring countries with their energy needs. According to officials, 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel have been supplied to Sri Lanka, and discussions are underway for a government level agreement to supply oil and gas to Mauritius.
Additionally, the government said that 2,180 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Iran so far through Armenia and Azerbaijan, including students and fishermen.
