Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have jointly warned against a large-scale Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon, urging restraint as fighting intensifies between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group along the border.

The statement from the four Western governments came amid growing concern that a broader ground campaign could trigger a prolonged regional conflict and worsen humanitarian conditions in Lebanon.

The leaders said a significant escalation would risk devastating consequences for civilians and could deepen instability across the Middle East.

The warning follows Israel’s decision to launch expanded military operations in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah fired large numbers of rockets and drones across the border into northern Israel.

Israeli officials have said the objective of the campaign is to dismantle militant infrastructure and restore security for communities near the frontier that have faced repeated attacks.

Hezbollah’s involvement in the broader conflict has sharply raised tensions in the region.

Since early March, the group has carried out sustained rocket and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory, prompting extensive Israeli airstrikes and limited ground activity aimed at neutralizing the threat.

Western governments acknowledged Israel’s right to defend its citizens but emphasized the need to prevent a wider war that could destabilize the region further.

In their joint message, they urged all parties to avoid actions that could escalate the conflict and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities.

The conflict has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people in southern Lebanon, while cross-border exchanges of fire have intensified fears of a broader confrontation involving multiple regional actors.

European leaders have been exploring diplomatic initiatives intended to halt the violence and restore stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Proposed measures include strengthening the Lebanese armed forces’ presence in the south and advancing negotiations aimed at limiting the activities of Hezbollah near the frontier.

Despite the warnings, Israeli officials maintain that eliminating militant threats along the border is essential to ensuring the safety of northern communities.

The Israeli government has stated that any military action is directed at armed groups responsible for attacks on Israel rather than the Lebanese population.

Diplomatic discussions among Western governments and regional partners are continuing as leaders attempt to prevent the conflict from widening while addressing the security concerns driving Israel’s military response.