Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Wednesday strongly condemned Israeli military operation against the Gaza Strip started at predawn.

In a statement, Lahoud said Israeli offensive was part of its coercive strategy based on violence and oppression and its breach of all international norms and resolutions.

"Lebanon, which has also suffered from Israeli occupation of parts of its territory, share the Palestinians sufferings and plight," Lahoud said.

The president underlined that protecting Arab rights could only be done through resistance "which remains a legitimate tool for peoples trying to regain their territories and rights."

Lahoud also criticized the world community for keeping silent and not reacting to Israeli hostilities.

"The world stood in silence when Israel's massacres resulted in the death of hundreds of Palestinians. The world community was neither affected by the killings nor by the screams of Palestinians children who live under continuous siege," he added.

Israeli troops carried out a broad ground operation dubbed " Summer Rain" early Wednesday to secure the return of a soldier abducted on Sunday by Palestinian militants.

It is the first major ground offensive by the Israeli army since Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the entire Gaza Strip last summer after 38 years of occupation.

Source: Xinhua