The Lebanese ambassador to the UK has claimed that “Hezbollah has not been committing violence”.

“I condemn any act of violence, but Hezbollah has not been committing violence,” Rami Mortada told the BBC’s Today programme.

“They [Hezbollah] were firing exclusively at military targets,” he added, referring to the group’s rocket attacks on northern Israel that began on October 8.

He went on to say that Lebanon had been trying to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the region, but the “hotheads” in Israel “chose a different path”.

Asked if he would describe Hezbollah as “hotheads”, Mr Mortada said: “Hezbollah… they have [their] modus operandi, it’s a Lebanese matter. Now they are in a self-defence posture.

“Israel has chosen an escalatory path in a very volatile and dangerous region. It’s opened Pandora’s box.”