Burak Bir
17 April 2026•Update: 17 April 2026
Reiterating the UK’s commitment to Lebanon's security, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said it was important to use the current Israel-Lebanon truce as a gateway to a lasting peace agreement.
Starmer on Friday had a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to convey his condolences over the loss of life in Lebanon during the recent conflict.
Both leaders discussed the recently announced 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Starmer's office said in a statement.
The prime minister said: "The UK would continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure long-term stability in the country."
At least 2,196 people have been killed and 7,185 wounded during 45 days of Israeli attacks on Lebanon, with over 1 million displaced, according to official figures.
Israel launched a war on Lebanon in October 2023, and a ceasefire was declared in November the following year, but Israel continued to violate it daily before expanding its offensive on March 2.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous war between October 2023 and November 2024.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.
The announcement followed Tuesday's US-mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations at the State Department in Washington, DC.
