Visiting French minister says Lebanon 'doesn't need war' with Israel
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday that Lebanon "doesn't need a war" with Israel and warned against a regional escalation as Israel bombards Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon's southern border has seen near daily exchanges of fire, mainly between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah, since Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel from the Palestinian territory on October 7.
"Lebanon doesn't need a war, that's the least we can say," Lecornu said during a visit to French peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Such a war "could have major escalatory effects on the whole region," he added.
The cross-border exchanges have left 66 dead on the Lebanese side -- 48 of them Hezbollah fighters but also including seven civilians, one of them a Reuters journalist, according to an AFP tally.
On the Israeli side, nine people have died -- eight soldiers and one civilian, the army says.
On Saturday, a U.N. peacekeeper was wounded by shelling, the mission's spokesman said, hours after reporting a hit on its headquarters.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been targeting Israeli observation posts and military positions near the border.
The group's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is to speak on Friday for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.
Lecornu said there was no interest in interrupting UNIFIL's mandate in the face of the current border tensions, adding he had heard "here and there that UNIFIL should stop its patrols."
"If there was ever a time in which we needed oversight and deterrence to prevent an escalation, it's now," he said.
UNIFIL acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, which remain technically at war, and counts around 10,000 peacekeepers, some 700 of them French.
Israel says its aim in Gaza is to destroy Hamas following the October 7 attacks, the deadliest in Israel's history, in which Israeli officials say militants killed 1,400 people and kidnapped 242 others.
It has bombed Hamas-ruled Gaza relentlessly since then, a bombardment the Hamas-run health ministry says has killed more than 9,000 people.
03 November 2023, 09:08
12
If balance of terror is here to stay, does Lebanon have a chance to escape Iran’s occupation, Hizb reign of terror, misery and hell? How can we explain to our kids why we allowed the rape of our country and its culture and traditions by the Basij? Most serious discussions continue:
03 November 2023, 09:08
12
SERIOUS TALKS 1: Since last parliament elections, it became evident there are two Lebanons with nothing in common. Dividing country into Hizbollahstan and Free Lebanon serves both nations to live to their ideals and satisfy their people aspirations. Combined we fight, separate we prosper. As Palestinians live under Israeli brutal occupation; Lebanese live under HizbIran occupation. Iran never cared for Palestinians & Lebanese. It uses them as woodchips for its furnace, dividing Arabs by arming radicals. HizbIran actions since assassinating Hariri is to gradually destroy state institutions; control of government, army, finance & kill opposition to insure control of all lands. Iran needs the South as an advanced rocket base, mountain tops to rule the population; and Christians, Sunni & Druze lands to hide its rockets for lateral damage. Disposable Christian Useful Idiots from Aoun, Bassil, Frangieh to SSNP sold Lebanon’s freedom & sovereignty to the Basij for 30 pieces of silver.
03 November 2023, 09:09
13
SERIOUS TALKS 3: If Saudi Arabia links its prosperous & sovereign future to security pact with US, why can’t Lebanon Christian canton seek security pact with France/EU. Holy trinity of Hizb, Likud & Hamas will use any future truce for more deadly arms and war preparation. Balance of terror is here to stay, insuring continuous Hizb occupation and misery with no reforms, recovery, investments or sovereignty. LEBANON WILL REMAIN UNDER HIZB OCCUPATION FOR DECADES UNLESS ACTION IS TAKEN NOW WHILE US FORCES HERE. Hizb controls government, raped justice, infiltrated army & threatens other communities with another 7 May invasion… facilitated by traitors Aoun, Bassil, Frangieh & SSNP; debasing & subjugating the Christian community while Batrak & Mutran Aoude in deep sleep. Frangieh for decades put Assad pictures at airport to welcome us until Aoun preferred Nassralah & Suleimani. Enough humiliation. Diaspora here to help. Live free or die!
