French ministers in Lebanon for talks month into Israel-Hezbollah truce
France's top diplomat and defense chief arrived on Monday in Lebanon, where a fragile truce since late November ended intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu met with Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, and on Tuesday are due to visit U.N. peacekeepers near the Israeli border.
A Lebanese army statement on social media said that Aoun and the visiting ministers discussed "ways to strengthen cooperation relations between the armies of the two countries and to continue support for the army in light of current circumstances".
Aoun, who is being touted as a possible candidate for Lebanon's president, has been tasked with deploying troops in the south of the country since the ceasefire came into effect on November 27.
Lecornu said on X that he is also due to meet with a French general representing Paris "within the ceasefire monitoring mechanism".
"Our armies are, and will remain, committed to the stability of Lebanon and the region," he said.
The monitoring body brings together Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations' UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. It is meant to support the implementation of the ceasefire and assess violations.
On Thursday, UNIFIL said it was "concerned" by "the continued destruction" carried out by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, despite the truce.
Lecornu and Barrot are scheduled to meet on Tuesday with French soldiers deployed with UNIFIL in south Lebanon.
31 December 2024, 15:08
So sick of the Frenchies.
Lebanon should do like Burkina Faso, Mali & Niger (I tink) and ask all French personnel and Ambassador to leave the country. They can take the Iranians with them as well.
31 December 2024, 18:41
UNIFIL has always contended that Hezbollah does not have any rockets or other weapons south of the Litani. There is therefore no need for Lebanon to oversee the removal of any Hezbollah fighters or weapons.
01 January 2025, 12:35
More UNIFIL lies. So what exactly have the Israelis blown up or captured over the last 14 months when they haven't had ground forces north of the Litani?
