Paris calls on Israel to ‘withdraw as soon as possible’ from Lebanon

BEIRUT — France condemned on Friday the Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and called on Israel to "withdraw as soon as possible from all Lebanese territory," in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Israel carried out strikes on Thursday night on this stronghold of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, the most violent since the cease-fire agreed in November 2024, and threatened on Friday to continue its raids if Lebanon did not disarm the Islamist movement.

"Paris calls on all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement," says the Quai d’Orsay. "France recalls that the Monitoring Mechanism, established by this ceasefire agreement, is there to help the parties address threats and prevent any escalation that would harm the security and stability of Lebanon and Israel," it emphasizes. "The dismantling of unauthorized military sites on Lebanese territory is primarily the responsibility of the Lebanese Armed Forces" with the support of the United Nations force (UNIFIL), recalls the French diplomacy.

The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, denounced a "flagrant violation" of the cease-fire after the strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The last strikes against the southern suburbs were on April 27.