Larnaca, Cyprus. German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan diverted to Larnaca airport on Monday after plans to visit Lebanon were aborted amid threats of Israeli strikes on Beirut. She had been travelling with Norwegian International Development Minister Asmund Grover Aukrust.
Flight turned back
The aircraft turned around shortly before approaching Lebanon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
After landing in Larnaca, Radovan’s ministry said the decision was made “for military reasons” due to “ongoing assessments of the rapidly escalating situation in Beirut”.
Israeli threat to strike Beirut
Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had ordered attacks on “terrorist targets” in Beirut on Monday afternoon, saying the action followed “the Hezbollah terrorist organisation’s repeated and ongoing violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon and its attacks against our civilians and cities”.
The planned strikes were not ultimately carried out. United States President Donald Trump said in a social media post that, following a “very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu”, there would be “no troops going to Beirut” and that “any troops that are on their way have been turned back”.
He added: “He turned his troops around. Thank you, Bibi!”
Trump also said he had held a “very good call with Hezbollah”, which had “agreed that all shooting will stop” and that “Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel”.
Germany’s position on Lebanon
Before the trip was aborted, Radovan said Germany “stands with the people in Lebanon” and is working “together with partners” including Unicef and the UN Development Programme.
“We are providing swift assistance for people who are suffering the harsh realities of war and international displacement. At the same time, we are supporting the reforms by the government aimed at strengthening the country in the long term,” she said.
