Paris, France – Web Desk: France has announced increased military and humanitarian support for Lebanon as President Emmanuel Macron urged regional powers to avoid escalating the widening Middle East conflict.
Macron said France would strengthen cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing armoured transport vehicles along with operational and logistical support to help stabilize the situation as tensions grow across the region.
“Everything must be done to prevent this country, so close to France, from once again being drawn into war,” Macron said in a post on the social platform X.
The French leader also called on Israel not to expand military operations into Lebanon and urged leaders in Iran to avoid pulling the country further into the conflict.
His statement followed an appeal from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who asked France to intervene to prevent Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut after warnings from the Israeli military to residents in the area.
Israel carried out fresh airstrikes on Beirut on Thursday after urging hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate southern districts of the city. The Israel Defense Forces says the attacks target the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, which has launched rockets and drones into Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ali Khamenei.
Lebanese state media reported further Israeli strikes overnight on several towns in eastern Lebanon, including the town of Dours. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 123 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since Monday, while more than 90,000 residents have been displaced.
Humanitarian Aid and Military Support
Macron also announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, including medicines, emergency shelter materials, and other relief supplies.
French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot said that five tonnes of medical equipment and several tonnes of humanitarian aid would arrive in Lebanon as early as next week.
France has also reinforced its military presence in the region, deploying the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to help protect French nationals and allies and assist in intercepting drones and missiles amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Macron emphasized that France is not participating in the conflict but is working diplomatically to prevent wider regional escalation.
“Hezbollah must immediately cease its fire toward Israel. Israel must refrain from any ground intervention or large-scale operation on Lebanese territory,” Macron said.
He added that France is seeking to form an international coalition to safeguard shipping routes critical to global trade and energy supply.
