ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s fresh wave of strikes against Lebanon on Wednesday, assuring full support for the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, Sharif’s office said. 

Israel carried out a wave of air attacks against Lebanon on Monday after the Iran-backed Hezbollah fired a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel. Hezbollah launched the attack on Haifa in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes over the weekend.

Israeli strikes on Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon killed at least 52 people and injured 154 on Monday, according to state-run media. On Wednesday, Israel ordered residents of a vast region of southern Lebanon to leave their homes while its military expanded its campaign of air strikes in the country, killing at least 11.

Sharif spoke to Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam via telephone to discuss regional tensions, including the Iran crisis, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

“During their discussion, the Prime Minister condemned, in the strongest terms, Israel’s aggression against Lebanon,” Sharif’s office said. 

The Pakistani premier conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives in Lebanon due to the Israeli attacks. 

“While recalling the longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and Lebanon, he assured the Lebanese leadership of Pakistan’s full support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and offered to play a constructive role in peace efforts,” the PMO said. 

The two leaders discussed surging tensions in the region, agreeing on the need for urgent de-escalation and restoration of peace, the statement added. 

“Prime Minister Nawaf Salam thanked the Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan for their expression of solidarity with Lebanon at this difficult time,” Sharif’s office said. 

Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has criticized its strikes against Iran and military campaigns in the Middle East.