A Frenchman was killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday, the second French victim since the intensification of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah.
Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Beirut, the first Western diplomat to visit Lebanon since the intensification of Israeli strikes targeting the Lebanese pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah.
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Lebanon: fear of a generalized war between Israel and Hezbollah
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening, the first senior Western diplomat to visit Lebanon since the intensification of Israeli strikes targeting the Lebanese pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah. According to his services, Jean-Noël Barrot should “exchange with local authorities and provide French support, particularly humanitarian”. He delivered emergency health aid to the Lebanese Minister of Health, before a working meeting on the situation of French nationals.
A Frenchman was killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday, the second French victim since the intensification of Israeli strikes against the Lebanese pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah. “We confirm the death of a second Frenchman. We will give more details later”indicated the ministry. An 87-year-old French woman died last Monday after a “strong explosion” in a village in the south of the country.
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At least 105 dead according to Lebanese authorities
The Israeli army again carried out violent raids against Hezbollah on Sunday in which nearly 105 people died, two days after killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as dozens of members of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiite Islamist movement. This escalation raises fears that the entire Middle East will fall into open conflict, with consequences that are as devastating as they are unpredictable.
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The Israeli offensive would have caused “the largest population displacement in the history of Lebanon”
Paris and Washington, joined by Arab, Western and European countries, called on Wednesday for an “immediate 21-day ceasefire” between Israel and Hezbollah to “give diplomacy a chance.” An initiative to which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not follow up before the UN General Assembly. He gave the green light to the bombing of a Beirut neighborhood which resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah.
President Macron said he was opposed to Lebanon “becoming a new Gaza”, citing the “absolutely shocking” number of civilian casualties. Prime Minister Michel Barnier, for his part, described“extremely serious” the situation and affirmed “concern about safety” French people on site.
