President Joseph Aoun, in a meeting with the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ Commissioner, Ms. Alice Rufo, highlighted Lebanon’s stance and ongoing efforts to address the Israeli escalation:
Lebanon welcomes the support provided by French President Emmanuel Macron to assist the country in facing the ongoing Israeli escalation against Lebanese territory, and to achieve a ceasefire and initiate negotiations in line with the recently announced Lebanese negotiation initiative.
The war will not lead to any practical outcome, but will increase the suffering of the Lebanese people, while negotiation remains the only solution capable of restoring security and stability to the region.
Israel continues to refuse to respond to Lebanese, Arab, and international calls to halt its war on Lebanon and to start negotiations that guarantee Lebanon’s sovereignty over its full territory, particularly in the south up to the international borders, and allow the Lebanese army to redeploy and extend the state’s authority with its legitimate military forces.
We welcome the willingness expressed by European and non-European countries to maintain forces in the south after the completion of UNIFIL’s withdrawal by the end of 2027.
We thank France—its President, government, and people—for their continued support to Lebanon across various fields, particularly through the military equipment and mechanisms that arrived today at the Port of Beirut, aimed at strengthening the Lebanese Army’s capabilities.
Ms. Rufo conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of President Macron and his assurance of support for Lebanon during these difficult times, emphasizing his alignment with the positions announced by the President, including the negotiation initiative and Lebanese government decisions.
