Japan on Friday expressed support for the recently announced 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, describing the move as a significant step toward achieving peace in the Middle East.
Government spokesman Masanao Ozaki stated that Tokyo “strongly hopes it will be maintained and lead to further peace and stability in the region,” according to Kyodo News.
The announcement follows a statement made a day earlier by US President Donald Trump, who said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to implement a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 2100GMT on Thursday after negotiations mediated by the United States in Washington, DC.
Despite the agreement, the Lebanese army reported early Friday that multiple violations had already occurred, alleging that Israeli forces carried out intermittent shelling on villages in southern Lebanon.
The conflict, which escalated on March 2, has seen Israel launch both air and ground offensives in Lebanon.
Official figures indicate that 2,196 people have been killed and 7,185 injured, while more than one million residents have been displaced.
In Iran, the ongoing hostilities have also taken a heavy toll, with available data showing over 3,300 deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
