Japan urges restraint as Israel begins ground operation in Lebanon

Japan's government expressed "serious concern" Tuesday over Israel's ground incursion against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, urging maximum restraint to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called for an immediate cease-fire, stressing all possible measures must be taken to prevent civilian casualties and requesting the relevant parties to pursue a diplomatic solution.Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said at a press conference that Tokyo has been making efforts to ensure the safety of the around 50 Japane…READ FULL ARTICLE