Mikati Meets British PM Amid Israel’s Assurance: Lebanon War to End Soon

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in London on Monday, offering condolences for the loss of Lebanese citizens in recent Israeli strikes.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry has reported that over 2,700 people have died, with close to 12,600 injured during the year-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Women and children make up about a quarter of those who lost their lives.

During their meeting, Starmer and Mikati agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and essential infrastructure, according to a statement from Starmer’s office.

“The prime minister emphasized the importance of de-escalating tensions and working toward a lasting, sustainable peace in the Middle East,” a spokesperson for Starmer said.

This meeting followed a statement by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to British lawmakers, where he shared that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had assured him the current military operation in Lebanon would conclude soon.

“He sought to reassure me that the ongoing targeted operation by Israel would be ending shortly, as he put it,” Lammy stated.