France Condemns Israeli Airstrikes and Calls for Withdrawal from Lebanon
The French government urges all parties to respect the ceasefire amid escalating tensions in the region.
France condemned on Friday the Israeli airstrikes on southern Beirut, calling for Israel to withdraw "as soon as possible" from all Lebanese territories.
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the southern suburbs, marking the most severe attacks since the ceasefire agreement in November 2024, and threatened to continue their operations unless the Lebanese state disarms the militant group.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, reiterating that France is committed to supporting mechanisms that help prevent escalations that could jeopardize the security and stability of both Lebanon and Israel.
The ministry emphasized that the dismantling of unauthorized military sites on Lebanese territory is primarily the responsibility of the Lebanese armed forces, with support from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Earlier on Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli airstrikes, labeling them a "flagrant violation of an international agreement and the fundamentals of international law and UN resolutions." He affirmed that "Lebanon will not submit to such atrocities," according to reports from the National News Agency of Lebanon.
Details of the Airstrikes
The Israeli forces launched a series of aerial attacks on Lebanon on Thursday evening, targeting the southern Beirut suburb with at least eight airstrikes, in a serious escalation occurring on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday, and while the ceasefire agreement signed in November remains in effect.
The official Lebanese news agency reported that these strikes followed seven warning attacks conducted by Israeli drones in the skies over the suburb before the warplanes executed direct strikes that resulted in fires and thick smoke rising over the capital.
Subsequently, the Israeli escalation extended into southern Lebanon, where the town of Ain Qana in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region was hit by two airstrikes after the Israeli military issued an immediate evacuation order to residents, citing the presence of "infrastructures for producing drones underground" in residential areas.
Escalation and Violations
These developments occur amidst continued escalations in Lebanon since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Gaza in October 2023. This conflict has evolved into an open confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah since September 2024, leading to the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27 of that year.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israel has committed thousands of violations since the ceasefire took effect, resulting in at least 208 fatalities and 501 injuries.
Additionally, Israeli forces continue to occupy five Lebanese hills in the south, despite a partial withdrawal from areas they invaded during the recent conflict.
Lebanese officials assert that the intensity of the strikes on the southern suburbs represents a violation for the fourth time since the ceasefire came into effect, reflecting what Beirut interprets as "a clear Israeli intention to undermine stability efforts and keep Lebanon under constant threat and escalation."
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the southern suburbs, marking the most severe attacks since the ceasefire agreement in November 2024, and threatened to continue their operations unless the Lebanese state disarms the militant group.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, reiterating that France is committed to supporting mechanisms that help prevent escalations that could jeopardize the security and stability of both Lebanon and Israel.
The ministry emphasized that the dismantling of unauthorized military sites on Lebanese territory is primarily the responsibility of the Lebanese armed forces, with support from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Earlier on Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli airstrikes, labeling them a "flagrant violation of an international agreement and the fundamentals of international law and UN resolutions." He affirmed that "Lebanon will not submit to such atrocities," according to reports from the National News Agency of Lebanon.
Details of the Airstrikes
The Israeli forces launched a series of aerial attacks on Lebanon on Thursday evening, targeting the southern Beirut suburb with at least eight airstrikes, in a serious escalation occurring on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday, and while the ceasefire agreement signed in November remains in effect.
The official Lebanese news agency reported that these strikes followed seven warning attacks conducted by Israeli drones in the skies over the suburb before the warplanes executed direct strikes that resulted in fires and thick smoke rising over the capital.
Subsequently, the Israeli escalation extended into southern Lebanon, where the town of Ain Qana in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region was hit by two airstrikes after the Israeli military issued an immediate evacuation order to residents, citing the presence of "infrastructures for producing drones underground" in residential areas.
Escalation and Violations
These developments occur amidst continued escalations in Lebanon since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Gaza in October 2023. This conflict has evolved into an open confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah since September 2024, leading to the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27 of that year.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israel has committed thousands of violations since the ceasefire took effect, resulting in at least 208 fatalities and 501 injuries.
Additionally, Israeli forces continue to occupy five Lebanese hills in the south, despite a partial withdrawal from areas they invaded during the recent conflict.
Lebanese officials assert that the intensity of the strikes on the southern suburbs represents a violation for the fourth time since the ceasefire came into effect, reflecting what Beirut interprets as "a clear Israeli intention to undermine stability efforts and keep Lebanon under constant threat and escalation."