European leaders push to expand US-Iran ceasefire to Lebanon amid rising tensions

European leaders intensified calls to extend the US-Iran ceasefire to Lebanon on Thursday after a wave of Israeli strikes triggered mounting casualties and widespread condemnation across the continent.

The EU strongly condemned the strikes, warning that the military escalation risks unravelling the ceasefire agreement and urging that Lebanon be included in its scope.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Israeli actions are putting the truce under “severe strain,” stressing that “the Iran truce should extend to Lebanon."

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that she is "deeply troubled" by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, calling for the ceasefire between the US and Iran to be extended to Lebanon and urging the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon," Cooper told Sky News, and warned of the humanitarian toll of the recent Israeli attacks on its northern neighbor.

"I'm deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday. We've seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said a “faint prospect of peace” had emerged following the temporary ceasefire agreed between Iran, the US and their allies, urging that negotiations be pursued “with determination.”

Speaking to the Chamber of Deputies, Meloni expressed appreciation to Pakistani President Shehbaz Sharif for facilitating the talks and said upcoming negotiations in Islamabad should strengthen the agreement and reflect priorities backed by Italy and its European partners.

On Lebanon, she reiterated Italy’s support for the Lebanese government and its sovereignty, stressing the need to disarm Hezbollah and calling on Israel to halt its military escalation.

Meloni also urged guarantees for the safety of UNIFIL personnel and called for enabling the return of displaced civilians, warning that continued instability could risk renewed migration flows toward Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron, after holding calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, condemned the bombardment “in the strongest possible terms,” calling it a “direct threat” to the sustainability of the ceasefire.

“Lebanon must be fully covered by it,” Macron said on US social media company X.

Iran and the US announced a two-week truce on Tuesday, mediated by Pakistan, aimed at paving the way for a final agreement to end a war launched by Washington and Israel against Tehran on Feb. 28. The conflict has left thousands dead and wounded.

Lebanon declared a period of national mourning after Israeli attacks killed at least 254 people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese authorities, raising fears that the escalation could derail the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.