Indonesian president condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) — Indonesia's president condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called on the world and the UN to act promptly to prevent more casualties, according to local media on Thursday.

"We ask nations of the world and the UN to respond promptly to prevent more victims of the Israeli attack," state-run Antara News quoted Joko Widodo as saying.

Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said the escalation in the Middle East has been a matter of concern not only for Indonesia but also for the global community.

He also directed the foreign minister to repatriate Indonesian nationals from Lebanon.

Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also condemned the Israeli attacks and warned that there were signs of the failure of multilateralism.

Israel has pounded Lebanon since Monday morning, killing at least 610 people and injuring 2,000 others, according to figures released by the Health Ministry.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border clashes since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 41,500 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last October.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid