UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday that Israeli strikes on Lebanon are wrong and are pushing the country into a crisis, while insisting that Hezbollah must disarm.

Starmer addressed the House of Commons amid ongoing tensions following a fragile US-Iran ceasefire announced last week. "Hezbollah must disarm, but I’m equally clear that Israel’s strikes are wrong. They are having devastating humanitarian consequences and pushing Lebanon into a crisis," he said.

The comments echo Starmer's remarks from April 9 during a Gulf tour, where he told ITV News' Talking Politics podcast that the strikes are "wrong" and "should stop." "Let’s be really clear about it, they’re wrong. That shouldn’t be happening, that should stop, that’s my strong view," he said, describing it as a matter of principle rather than a technical breach of the ceasefire.

The strikes in question occurred on April 8, Lebanon's deadliest day from Israeli attacks, with the health ministry reporting 303 deaths and over 1,000 wounded across sites including Beirut. Total casualties from Israeli operations in Lebanon since early March exceed 2,000 killed and 6,500 wounded.

Israel has been targeting Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group it designates as a terrorist organization, in a conflict escalating since March. The US-Iran two-week truce, brokered after clashes including over the Strait of Hormuz, excludes Lebanon according to Israel and the US, though Iran and Hezbollah claim it applies. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his cabinet to begin talks with Lebanon soon.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed deep concern over the escalation and urged Lebanon's urgent inclusion in the ceasefire. Starmer, who visited Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for one-fifth of global energy shipments—with US President Donald Trump. The strait remains disrupted, spiking oil prices.

Starmer announced a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron this week to advance diplomacy and military planning for safe navigation. He emphasized that businesses in energy, shipping, and finance need confidence before resuming operations.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Labour's defense preparedness, calling for action on energy security amid North Sea production challenges. The UK has avoided deeper involvement, rejecting US requests for base use against Iran beyond defensive measures.

International efforts continue, with US-Iran talks set in Pakistan and calls for a sustainable peace.