Canada has committed to supporting Lebanon through its crisis while strongly condemning Israel's military campaign in the Middle Eastern nation. Canada's Minister of International Development, Randeep Sarai, visited Lebanon to unveil new aid programs, bringing Canada's total support to Lebanon this year to over $50 million.
Speaking during the visit, Sarai emphasized that Beirut needs to manage its own space and referred to Israel's actions as an "illegal invasion" of Lebanon. "Our commitment is long-term, and we stand with Lebanon," Sarai said after visiting shelters for people displaced by the war and Syrian refugees.
Earlier, on March 25, Canada warned that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity "must not be violated" and condemned Israeli forces' plans to occupy southern Lebanon. The warning came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon since March. Under a US-mediated framework agreement signed in late June, "pilot areas" were established to hand over small areas in southern Lebanon from Israeli forces to the Lebanese army.
However, in late July, the Lebanese Armed Forces accused Israel of obstructing efforts to gain security control in the south. The war has killed more than 4,000 people and caused widespread destruction in Lebanon. The United Nations reports that around 360,000 people have been displaced due to the latest conflict.
Sarai also met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who have pledged to restore state authority across Lebanon and implement anti-corruption reforms. Canada, home to a large Lebanese diaspora, has provided approximately $575 million in aid to Lebanon over the past decade. Meanwhile, Israeli officials stated they will not withdraw from Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
