By Ahmet Dursun and Mahmut Nabi
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Iran on Saturday condemned Israel's Friday airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that left 31 people dead and called on the international community to take a "decisive action" to stop Israeli attacks.
In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said that such attacks represent a violation of international law and Lebanon’s sovereignty.
"There is no doubt that the Zionist regime is attempting to escalate tensions in the region and expand the scope of war and conflict, contrary to the overwhelming majority of governments and nations calling for an immediate cease-fire," he said.
He further added that Israel’s "malicious policies" pose a clear and severe threat to international peace and security.
The Iranian spokesman urged the international community to take "decisive measures" to halt Israel's "killing machine" in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.
Earlier, the Lebanese health minister said that the death toll from Friday’s Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb has climbed to 31.
Firas Al-Abiad said that among the victims were seven women, three children aged four, six, and 10, and three Syrian nationals.
The Israeli army said Friday that it assassinated Hezbollah’s top military commander Ibrahim Aqil, along with senior commanders from the group's elite Radwan Force in the airstrike.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah have intensified in recent days amid an escalation in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi