Merz slams Israeli attacks on Lebanon, says they threaten Iran truce

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has criticized Israel's attack on Lebanon, which local authorities say have killed scores of people in recent days, reported dpa.

The German leader said Berlin was monitoring the situation in the Middle East with great concern, after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire earlier this week.

"The severity with which Israel is waging war [in Lebanon] could cause the peace process as a whole to fail. And that must not happen," Merz said.

"That is why, together with other heads of state and government, I asked the Israeli government yesterday to put an end to its further escalated attacks," he said, referring to a joint statement issued by European leaders and Canada on Wednesday.

The text calls on all parties involved in the fighting in the Middle East "to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon."

Despite the truce between the United States and Iran announced late on Tuesday, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon, stressing that it had never agreed to end strikes on the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia as part of the deal.

Over 200 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the Health Ministry.