France ramps up military aid to Lebanon as Macron calls on Hezbollah, Israel to halt attacks

PARIS, March 5 (Reuters) - France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed ​Forces and provide armored transport vehicles as well ‌as operational and logistical support, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, as Lebanon was pulled deeper into the war in ​the Middle East earlier this week.

“Everything must be ​done to prevent this country, so close to ⁠France, from once again being drawn into war,” Macron ​said in a post on X.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

“At this moment of ​great danger, I call on the Israeli prime minister not to expand the war to Lebanon. I call on Iranian leaders not ​to further draw Lebanon into a war that ​is not its own,” the French leader added.

After meeting with the ‌chief ⁠of staff of the French military in Beirut, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun asked Macron to intervene to “prevent the targeting of the southern suburbs following threats by the Israeli ​army against ​its residents,” the ⁠Lebanese presidency said in a separate statement.

France has said that it aims to ​prevent escalation across the region and has taken steps ​to ⁠protect its own positions amid the wider conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

“Hezbollah must immediately cease its fire ⁠toward ​Israel. Israel must refrain from ​any ground intervention or large-scale operation on Lebanese territory,” Macron said.

Reporting by ​Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Dominique Vidalon and Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

• Suggested Topics:
• Europe

Share

• X

• Facebook

• Linkedin

• Email

• Link

Purchase Licensing Rights