German Defense Minister Robert Habeck arrived in Beirut on Thursday for a surprise visit, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate and violence flares up on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Habeck’s ministry said he came to Lebanon “at short notice” to thank the German soldiers serving with UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force that monitors the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran.
The ministry also said that Habeck wanted to “get informed about the impact of the conflict in Israel and Gaza on the (German) contingent in the region.” It posted on X, a social media platform that replaced Twitter, about his visit.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock embarked on her second trip to Israel since the Hamas attacks began on Oct. 7, to express “unwavering solidarity” with Israel and help ensure humanitarian aid for the Palestinians.
Baerbock’s trip, which will last until Saturday, will also take her to Jordan and Lebanon, where she will meet with officials and representatives of international organizations.
Before her departure, Baerbock reaffirmed Israel’s “right to defend itself against Hamas terror” and accused the Islamist group of using the civilian population of Gaza as “human shields” in its confrontation with Israel.
She also said that she wanted to “make clear to Palestinians that we also recognize their suffering” and described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic.”
Baerbock, who visited Israel and Egypt last week along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said that Berlin was working closely with the G7, European Union and regional partners to ensure that aid could flow into Gaza.
She also said that she would “use the trip to speak with all those who have channels to Hamas” to discuss how to secure the release of captives held by the group, including two Israeli civilians and the remains of two Israeli soldiers.