German and Norwegian ministers turn back on way to Beirut

The German and Norwegian ministers en route to Beirut to express solidarity with the Lebanese people were forced to turn back and cancel their trip on Monday due to the risk of Israeli strikes, their respective offices said.

German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan and her Norwegian counterpart Åsmund Aukrust interrupted their journey as they were approaching Beirut "for military reasons" due to the "rapidly worsening situation," a German ministry spokesperson told AFP.

In Oslo, a Norwegian government spokesperson confirmed the cancellation of the trip to AFP.

The two officials, who were aboard a German military aircraft, ultimately landed in Cyprus, and the plane is expected to return to Berlin, according to Norwegian newspaper VG.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday instructed the military to strike "terrorist targets" in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The previous day, he ordered an intensification of the offensive in Lebanon, where the Israeli military is striking Hezbollah positions, an ally of Tehran.

"More than 3,000 people have been killed since March. What is happening now makes it even more important to show our solidarity," Norwegian Minister for Development Aid Åsmund Aukrust told VG by phone. He added that Lebanese "must know that, on the Norwegian side, we will continue to fight for them and for international humanitarian law."

In a statement, Alabali Radovan called on "all parties" to de-escalate and urged negotiations toward a cease-fire.

According to VG, the two ministers were initially scheduled to meet the Lebanese president, members of civil society, and internally displaced persons.

Iran reiterated on Monday that any agreement with the United States to end the war in the Middle East is conditional on a cease-fire in Lebanon.