Macron urges Netanyahu 'not to expand the war to Lebanon'

"For Lebanon, we must act." French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on X on Thursday evening, as mass evacuations of residents from southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburb were underway following warnings issued by the Israeli army.

"Everything must be done to prevent this country, so close to France, from being drawn again into war," he wrote.

Stating that he had "exchanges" with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he announced he had spoken "with the highest Lebanese authorities to establish a plan to end the military operations that Hezbollah and Israel are currently conducting on both sides of the border."

Calling on Hezbollah to "stop its fire toward Israel and on the Israeli army to refrain from any ground intervention or large-scale action on Lebanese territory," the French president assured that Lebanon had undertaken "to take control of the positions held by Hezbollah and to fully assume security across the entire national territory."

As the Chief of the French Armed Forces, General Fabien Mandon, arrived in Beirut Thursday afternoon, "to assess the situation in Lebanon given the evolution of the security conditions," as conveyed in a statement by the Lebanese presidency, Emmanuel Macron laid out an action plan: "France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and provide them with armored transport vehicles as well as operational and logistical support. The French detachment within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will continue its mission in the south of the country. Concerned about the displacement of tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians who are now fleeing the south, I have decided to send immediate humanitarian aid for them. Several tons of medicine are en route, as well as shelter solutions and other assistance."

Finally, the French president solemnly called on Benjamin Netanyahu "not to expand the war to Lebanon" and asked Iranian officials "not to involve it further in a war that is not its own." He ended by addressing Hezbollah, and said it "must give up its weapons, respect the national interest, show that it is not a militia under foreign orders, and allow the Lebanese to come together to preserve their country."

Berri and Aoun spoke to Macron

Earlier in the day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on X that he had asked French President Emmanuel Macron "to intervene so that the southern suburb is not targeted, after threats by the Israeli army." He also asked him "to work for a cease-fire as soon as possible."

A phone conversation also took place Thursday between French President Emmanuel Macron and the Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, as reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

They discussed the critical situation resulting from the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, as well as recent developments in Beirut's southern suburb and the evacuation of its residents. According to Mr. Berri, this situation constitutes "a real danger for Lebanon."

Mr. Berri indicated that he had "reviewed with the French president several proposals likely to put an end to this situation," NNA reported. President Macron "showed his full interest in these proposals and his readiness to make the necessary contacts and to send aid to Lebanon quickly."