EU’s top diplomat says Israel’s ‘heavy-handed actions’ putting US-Iran ceasefire under severe strain

The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas has warned that Israel’s “heavy-handed actions” are putting the fragile US-Iran ceasefire under severe strain, raising concerns about the sustainability of the truce.

Kallas said recent Israeli strikes—particularly in Lebanon—have caused significant casualties and destruction, making it difficult to justify such actions as self-defence. She stressed that the ongoing military campaign risks undermining the diplomatic progress achieved through the ceasefire agreement.

The EU has called for the ceasefire to be broadened to include Lebanon, where escalating violence involving Iran-backed groups and Israeli forces continues to threaten regional stability. Officials say failure to contain the conflict geographically could derail ongoing peace efforts.

Analysts note that the situation highlights the fragility of the ceasefire, as continued hostilities by any party could trigger renewed escalation. International actors, including European nations, are urging restraint and expansion of diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from widening further.