Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday called for an end to Israel's bombardment of neighboring Lebanon "before it collapses," AFP reports.

"The government of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is at the center of all crises in the region," he said at a press conference with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul. "Israel, pursuing an expansionist policy, is using the current war to transfer its dirty war to Lebanon. Israeli attacks must stop before the Lebanese state collapses," Fidan warned, saying that if this happens it "will have a profound impact on the entire region," especially on neighboring countries.

The mass displacement of people in Lebanon is, in his words, "absolutely unacceptable."

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Israel, which had continued striking Lebanon even before the war despite the 2024 ceasefire, has since launched airstrikes and sent ground forces into border areas.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 687 people have been killed in the violence, while more than 800,000 people have been registered as displaced.