Paris: France reiterated the need to ensure the protection of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon as tensions escalate between Israel and Hezbollah, while also requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry emphasized that the safety and security of UN personnel, property, and premises must be guaranteed in accordance with international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The regional tensions have intensified following a joint attack by Israel and the US on Iran on February 28, resulting in over 1,200 casualties, including the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This has spurred Israel to extend its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire that was established in late 2024.
Iran, refusing to capitulate, has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and other nations, including those in the Gulf region hosting US military bases. In response to the ongoing conflict, France condemned an attack on March 6 that injured three members of the Ghanaian contingent serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), one of whom was seriously wounded. The President of France expressed solidarity with Ghana and wished for the swift recovery of the injured peacekeepers.
The French government has sought an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in New York to discuss the worsening situation, expressing deep concern over the violence. Furthermore, France condemned Hezbollah's decision to align with Iranian attacks against Israel since March 1, urging the group to cease its activities and disarm. The French government also expressed support for Lebanon's decision on March 2 to prohibit Hezbollah's military and security operations.
France called on Israel to avoid a ground intervention or a prolonged large-scale operation in Lebanon, emphasizing the need to respect Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The French ministry highlighted the growing displacement of civilians and announced that France is collaborating with Lebanese authorities and humanitarian organizations, including the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), to address the humanitarian crisis. The ministry urged all parties to exercise restraint and return to the ceasefire reached on November 26, 2024, while adhering to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law.