Finance
Israel's Pounding of Lebanon Is 'deeply Damaging', UK Foreign Minister Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 9, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 9, 2026
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UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called Israel’s intensified attacks on Lebanon “deeply damaging” and urged that the U.S.–Iran ceasefire be extended to include Lebanon to prevent wider regional destabilisation.
Israel's pounding of Lebanon is 'deeply damaging', UK foreign minister says
UK Foreign Secretary Comments on Israel-Lebanon Conflict
LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Thursday that Israel's pounding of Lebanon was "deeply damaging" and risked destabilising the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Calls for Ceasefire Inclusion
"We want to see Lebanon included in the ceasefire," she told Times Radio. "We want it extended to cover Lebanon, because otherwise that will destabilise the whole region."
Concerns Over Regional Stability
"That escalation that we saw from Israel yesterday was deeply damaging, and we want to see an end to hostilities."
Britain's Role and Relations with Allies
Britain, which has faced heavy criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for failing to provide more support for Washington's war on Iran, has sought to help defend its allies in the Gulf and is now working with other countries on ways to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz.
Strains with the United States
Asked about the strains with its key U.S. ally, Cooper said it was possible for London to remain close to Washington while also taking a different approach in the region. But she said some of Trump's rhetoric, including when he threatened to destroy Iran's civilisation, had been dangerous.
Criticism of Escalatory Rhetoric
"I think that the rhetoric that we've seen used has been completely wrong," she told Sky News. "That sort of escalatory rhetoric can have escalatory consequences."
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Muvija M; editing by Kate Holton)
Key Takeaways
- •Cooper emphasised the need to extend the U.S.–Iran ceasefire to Lebanon to secure regional stability and prevent further escalation
- •Despite the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, Israel continues operations in Lebanon—a divide accepted by Israel but contested by other parties
- •London has mobilised humanitarian aid measures and continues diplomatic outreach to prevent the conflict widening
Frequently Asked Questions about Israel's pounding of Lebanon is 'deeply damaging', UK foreign minister says
1What did the UK foreign minister say about Israel's actions in Lebanon?
The UK foreign minister said Israel's pounding of Lebanon is 'deeply damaging' and called for an end to hostilities.
2Why does the UK want the ceasefire extended to Lebanon?
The UK wants the ceasefire extended to Lebanon to prevent destabilisation of the entire Middle East region.
3How could the conflict impact regional stability?
Continued conflict could destabilise the region and undermine efforts towards a broader ceasefire, particularly between the U.S. and Iran.
4Who reported on the UK's statement about Israel and Lebanon?
The comments were reported by Muvija M and edited by Kate Holton for Reuters.
5What escalation did the UK refer to regarding Israel?
The UK referred to escalation by Israel in its operations against Lebanon, which they described as deeply damaging.
