Spain, UK, and France condemn Israel’s strikes on Lebanon post US-Iran ceasefire

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares sharply criticised Israel on Thursday for violating international law and a newly brokered two-week ceasefire by carrying out airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday.

Addressing lawmakers, Albares accused Israel of dropping “hundreds of bombs on Lebanon” in defiance of the ceasefire.

Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal Western critics of US and Israeli actions in the Middle East, having previously closed its airspace to aircraft involved in what Madrid called “reckless and illegal” operations.

In a move signaling diplomatic engagement, Albares also announced that Spain would reopen its embassy in Tehran to support peace efforts. “I’ve instructed our ambassador in Tehran to return, to take up his post again and reopen our embassy, and for us to join in this effort for peace from every possible quarter, including from the Iranian capital itself,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper condemned Wednesday’s escalation as “deeply damaging,” noting that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement.

She accentuated the importance of maritime freedoms, saying “fundamental freedoms of the sea must not be unilaterally withdrawn or sold off” and calling for support of International Maritime Organization proposals to aid ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that shipping “must be toll-free.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also joined in condemning Israel’s airstrikes on Lebanon, highlighting growing European concern over escalating tensions in the region.

The coordinated criticism from Spain, the UK, and France reflects mounting European alarm over the conflict and underscores calls for adherence to international law and renewed diplomatic engagement to stabilize the Middle East.