Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with political leaders in Lebanon on civilian and child casualties in their country since 7 October 2023.

We are in close contact with the Lebanese government.   We are urging all sides to avoid further escalation in Lebanon. The situation is fragile and an escalation in violence, including on Lebanon's southern border with Israel, is not in anyone's interests.  The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Lebanese Prime Minister on 28 December and discussed the situation on the Lebanese/Israeli border and the need for full implementation of UNSCR 1701.