Canadian official condemns Israel's 'unlawful invasion' of Lebanon, announces new aid

During a visit to Beirut, Canadian official Randeep Sarai condemned Israel's "unlawful invasion" of southern Lebanon and announced three new aid programs, raising Canada's 2026 assistance past 71 million Canadian dollars ($50.23 million). The conflict has killed over 4,000 people and displaced 360,000 civilians. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is seeking to extend the UNIFIL peacekeeping mandate amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and occupation.

Canadian condemnation of Israeli invasion

• ▪Canada's Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai condemned Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon as an "unlawful invasion" during a visit to Beirut on August 18, 2026.
• ▪The Canadian government lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and has condemned Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel.
• ▪Canada's Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai stated that Lebanon should govern its own space and maintain sovereignty over its lands.

Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon

• ▪Israeli officials stated that the Israeli military will not pull out from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
• ▪Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh on August 15, 2026, as violations of the US-brokered ceasefire.

Ceasefire violations by Israel

• ▪Israeli airstrikes on August 15, 2026, killed at least 11 people in the southern Lebanese villages of Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani.
• ▪The Israeli military claimed its August 15, 2026, airstrikes targeted a Hezbollah compound on the Ali al-Taher ridge and killed senior commanders Abu Hassan Alaa and Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan.
• ▪The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced approximately 360,000 Lebanese civilians, according to United Nations figures.

Displacement of Lebanese civilians

• ▪Canada launched three new humanitarian programs in Lebanon to support vulnerable families and women, raising its total 2026 assistance to over 71 million Canadian dollars ($50.23 million).
• ▪The Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2, 2026, has killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon and at one point displaced over 1 million people.

Canadian humanitarian aid programs

• ▪Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requested an extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate, which expires at the end of 2026.
• ▪Canada has provided approximately 800 million Canadian dollars ($575 million) in assistance to Lebanon over the past 10 years.

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