Genocidal British lord wants IOF to ‘finish the job’ in Lebanon

Howard Leigh, a Tory peer, has asked the House of Lords why it was stopping Israel’s occupation forces (IOF) from being able to “finish the job” in Lebanon.

Leigh, disgustingly, said:

The only successful way of dealing with, in effect, Iran in Lebanon through Hezbollah, is through military action. At what point do the British Government stop spending British taxpayers’ money helping the Lebanese Government, and, instead, allow the IDF to finish the job?

His words were so shockingly genocidal that even Starmer’s ally and Cabinet MP Jenny Chapman had to respond with how wrong Israel’s actions were:

With respect, I fundamentally disagree with the noble Lord. I wonder what he means by “finish the job”, given what we are seeing and the numbers of civilians who have been killed. Over three and a half thousand civilians, including children, have been killed indiscriminately. I could, perhaps, understand a targeted action. There would be questions about that too, but what we are seeing now is wrong.

Clearly, the genocidal Lord concluded the only remaining option was military action: letting the IOF finish the job, regardless of Lebanese sovereignty or civilian life.

Leigh is a staunch Israel ally and a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel. Earlier this year, he protested in the HoL about the suspension of some of the arms sales by the UK to Israel.

UK complicity in war crimes in Lebanon

The Anglo-American Zionists’ ethnic cleansing in Lebanon is an extension of their genocide in Gaza and their wider war on Iran. What began with the flattening of Gaza has now spread north: the same doctrine of collective punishment, the same destruction of civilian infrastructure, the same forced displacement dressed up as self-defence.

In Lebanon, more than 3,500 civilians have been killed, including over 240 children. More than one million people have been driven from their homes, over one in five of the entire population.

As British historian William Dalrymple has noted, Israeli leaders have openly stated they will demolish villages, prevent displaced people, mostly Shia, from ever returning, and create a permanent security zone inside Lebanese territory. Under international law, deliberately displacing a religious group and making their return impossible amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Dalrymple also called out Sky News’ blatant misrepresentation of ethnic cleansing in Lebanon as Israel “taking a stronger stance.”

British politicians still being neocolonialists

Labour Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed in the House of Commons that the UK is carrying out counterinsurgency by proxy.

Responding to Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who had asked about engaging non-Hezbollah Shi’a political movements, Cooper said:

…we need an inclusive process in Lebanon that brings all groups and communities together but excludes Hezbollah, Iranian-backed proxies and terrorist and extremist groups. The group that he mentioned is led by Speaker Berri, who met my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East as part of his recent visit. We will continue to engage with that movement and more widely with the Lebanese Government about the importance of bringing all communities together so that the Lebanese people are not exploited by Iran.

Hezbollah is a dangerous terrorist organisation. It is undermining the security of the people of Lebanon. We support the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese armed forces in taking action against Hezbollah. We are providing them with direct support, including funding and capabilities support, because we believe it is hugely important that they should be able to do this with international support.

Essentially, Cooper is confirming that Britain will bankroll and train the Lebanese state to fight Hezbollah, while excluding Hezbollah from any political solution. She is embracing the Amal movement (led by Speaker Berri) as a preferred partner instead, and ignoring that this strategy risks tearing Lebanon apart along sectarian lines.

Leigh’s language might be shocking, but it is representative of the whole British imperial establishment, from politicians to the media, who are backing ethnic cleansing in Lebanon.

Featured image via Getty/Adri Salido