French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna speaks at a press conference at the Pines Residence, Beirut, Dec. 18, 2023. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin)
BEIRUT — French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna warned on Monday that "the risk of escalation remains very high" in southern Lebanon, stressing France's "concern" about the risk of a "regional conflagration." These remarks were made during a press conference at the Pines Residence in Beirut, following a brief visit by Colonna to a number of local political and military leaders.
"We are here to avoid a regional conflagration," insisted Colonna who also took the opportunity to criticize Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah maintains a tense front with Israel in southern Lebanon, and has lost 111 of its members since Oct. 8, the day after the Palestinian movement Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel.
Risk of escalation and "miscalculations"
"The risk of escalation remains very high," said Catherine Colonna in Beirut. "It is the responsibility of all those involved to do everything possible to avoid a conflagration that would benefit no one. It would increase danger and bring everyone further from a place of security," she continued.
The French foreign minister then addressed "those in Lebanon who would make the wrong calculations," saying: "If Lebanon plunged into war, it would never recover. I carry this message with great concern."
She was quick to specify the targets of her criticism. "I'm thinking here of Iran and all its affiliates in Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea ... It's a mistake. The escalation must stop." Colonna also indicated that she had not met with any Hezbollah officials during her visit.
Joseph Aoun: 'It's about time!'
Turning to the local political situation, Catherine Colonna recalled that Lebanon "is in an extremely weak position," due to the absence of a president since Michel Aoun's term expired on Oct. 31, 2022. Lebanese MPs have repeatedly failed to elect a president during the various parliamentary election sessions that started in September 2022.
"The extension of the army chief's mandate is certainly good news. But I would add that it's about time," said the French minister of foreign affairs, three days after Joseph Aoun's mandate was extended by members of Parliament. "But this is not enough. The leaders must continue to show a spirit of responsibility. This country must have a president," said Colonna.
She reiterated that "France stands in solidarity with the Israeli people in the face of terrorism," following her visit to Israel. But she added that Israel "must show much more respect for international humanitarian law and protect the population," insisting on the excessive death toll in Gaza and the need for a lasting humanitarian truce.
Catherine Colonna arrived in Beirut on Monday and held talks with the speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, in Ain al-Tineh, as well as with the commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Aroldo Lazaro, who stressed that the situation is "tense" and "dangerous" in southern Lebanon.
She also spoke with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who stressed the importance of "implementing [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701 in letter and spirit, provided Israel adheres to its provisions." This resolution put an end to the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and provides for the deployment of the Lebanese Army in an area controlled by UNIFIL.