Australia warns Israel against south Lebanon occupation

Israel should not occupy southern Lebanon, and international law needs to be upheld, Australia’s foreign minister says.

Australia has warned Israel against occupying parts of Lebanon, urging it to respect international law after the displacement of more than a million people.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concerns about Israel’s planned occupation of southern Lebanon in a call with her Israeli counterpart.

Senator Wong also condemned comments made by Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich – who has been sanctioned by Australia for inciting violence and Palestinian human rights abuses – calling for the Jewish state to annex Lebanese territory.

The foreign minister said she reiterated Australia’s condemnation of Iran and its proxies’ attacks throughout the Middle East, including Tehran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, choking oil supply through the major route and spiking fuel prices globally.

The United States and Israel continue to strike Iran after launching a war on February 28, and Israel has announced military operations in southern Lebanon to tackle the terrorist organisation Hezbollah, a proxy of the Iranian regime.

“Australia is gravely concerned at the expansion of the conflict in Lebanon, the loss of life and displacement of more than one million civilians,” Senator Wong said on Wednesday following a call with Gideon Sa’ar.

“We discussed Hezbollah’s continued strikes on Israel and agreed they must disarm in line with previous agreements.

“Australia supports Lebanon’s sovereignty – so we do not want to see occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel.”

Senator Wong said she further pushed her counterpart to allow Australian diplomats to return to Ramallah after Israel revoked visas following Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

She also raised concerns about increasing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

“Australia again calls for parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and for the protection of civilians and aid workers,” she said.

Mr Sa’ar said he conveyed the scale of the missile attacks against Israel from Lebanon, saying media outlets had portrayed the war against Hezbollah as one-sided.

“Unfortunately, the Lebanese government is not taking practical steps against Hezbollah, neither to stop the attacks on Israeli civilians, nor in other contexts,” he posted on social media.

Hezbollah attacked Israel at the start of March in solidarity with Iran.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, said hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents in the south would not be able to return to their homes and Israel would occupy up to the Litani River until Hezbollah no longer posed a threat.

Israeli bombardment of Lebanon against what it claims to be Hezbollah targets that have included suburbs in the capital Beirut has killed 1000 people, including more than 120 children and 40 medics, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Lebanon, and an Israeli civilian near the Lebanon border was killed by misfired Israeli artillery, according to the Israel Defence Force.

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By: Dominic Giannini/AAP On: 25/03/2026 14:29