India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed deep concern regarding the civilian casualties in Lebanon following a series of Israeli airstrikes that have reportedly resulted in over 300 deaths. The violence intensified after the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which led to Hezbollah firing at Israel. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized India's commitment to the protection of civilians and adherence to international law, highlighting India's role as a troop-contributing country to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In the backdrop of this violence, Israel and Lebanon are expected to commence negotiations in Washington next week, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for direct talks focused on disarming Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has retaliated against Israeli attacks by targeting the Ashdod naval base, claiming it was in response to Israel's violations of the ceasefire. The situation remains tense as both sides navigate the complexities of the ongoing conflict.