Macron Renews Backing for Lebanon as Salam Rejects Hezbollah's Intimidation
French President Emmanuel Macron said that “France, as it has always done, will support Lebanon in its next steps and in providing humanitarian aid, and that stability cannot be achieved without Israel’s withdrawal from its territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah.”
Speaking after receiving Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée Palace, Macron added: “France will commit to rebuilding the areas destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, and we support the Lebanese security forces.”
He further said: “We support the disarmament of Hezbollah by the Lebanese armed forces and limiting weapons to the state alone. I look forward with confidence to the coming days. There is a ceasefire and negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, and I hope Israel will respect the sovereignty of neighboring states.”
For his part, Salam said: “I offered my condolences to Macron over the death of the French soldier serving with UNIFIL, and this incident will not go unpunished.”
He stressed that “Lebanon did not choose this war; it was imposed on it,” adding that he had emphasized to the French president the need to respect the terms of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
Salam also said that “a conference to support the Lebanese Army and security forces has become urgently necessary today, and Lebanon needs €500 million to address the humanitarian crisis over the next six months.”
He noted that “sustainable stability cannot be achieved except through Israel’s withdrawal, the return of the displaced, and the release of prisoners,” announcing that “we will continue pursuing the diplomatic track through direct talks with Israel,” while adding that “negotiations with Israel will be difficult and will require effective support from partners.”
He concluded: “There can be no state or sovereignty with more than one army on its territory. We are not seeking a confrontation with Hezbollah, but we will not allow it to intimidate us.”
