The Indian government has expressed deep concern over the death of a large number of civilians in the Israeli attack in Lebanon amid the Iran war. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a joint press briefing that India has always maintained that the security of civilians should be the top priority.

Respect for international law is essential

Jaiswal said it was very important to abide by international laws and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Describing the attack on the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon as disturbing news, the spokesman said that these UN soldiers are striving to establish peace and security in the country.

"Our local missions are in constant touch with the safety and security of Indian nationals in Lebanon," he said.

Diplomatic efforts for energy security intensified

Amid rising tensions and changing developments in the Middle East, the Indian government has stepped up diplomatic efforts to strengthen its energy security. On the one hand, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri is on a visit to Qatar, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's two-day visit to the UAE is scheduled to begin on Saturday. Giving this information, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that Jaishankar will discuss strengthening relations with the UAE.

Kuwait assures energy security

Giving information about Hardeep Puri's visit to Kuwait at an inter-ministerial press conference, Jaiswal said that Kuwait is a major energy supplier of rice. Kuwait's energy minister has assured that he will remain a reliable energy supplier. We hope that in the coming days, energy relations and cooperation between the two countries will be stronger than before.