Violence between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, turning southern Lebanon into a flashpoint. In response, the leaders of nine southern European Union countries, including France, Italy, and Spain, have pledged support for Lebanon’s armed forces to reassert control over the south and bring peace to the region. They expressed extreme concern over the military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah and stressed the need for a ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of the Lebanese armed forces returning to South Lebanon for peace and stability. The leaders called for increased aid deliveries to Lebanon to address the humanitarian crisis and bolster the country’s military and security forces. A conference in Paris on October 24 will focus on this support, with discussions on assisting Lebanon’s army to move into the south.
The EU leaders’ support for Lebanon’s armed forces comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other diplomats explore ways to reduce tensions in the Middle East and get Hezbollah to move its forces away from Israel’s border. Meanwhile, French, Spanish, and Italian leaders condemned Israel’s targeting of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon and called for a suspension of weapons deliveries to Israel to help de-escalate the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.
The leaders also discussed irregular migration and ways to address the issue at the source, such as creating conditions for the return of Syrian refugees to their country. The situation in the region remains tense, with daily cross-border fire exchanges and tens of thousands of people displaced on both sides of the border.
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