Beirut: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon's territorial integrity and protecting civilians amid ongoing military escalation in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Macron highlighted the significance of maintaining Lebanon's territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of civilians, irrespective of their religious affiliations, during a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Macron emphasized the necessity of preserving state institutions and the country's infrastructure as crucial elements in the current geopolitical context.

In his statement on US social media company X, Macron conveyed France's unwavering support to Lebanon at what he described as a 'crucial moment' for the country's future. He acknowledged the 'strong and courageous steps' taken by the Lebanese government to execute its sovereignty agenda amid the escalation involving Hezbollah.

Macron assured that France will continue its commitment to providing humanitarian aid to displaced individuals and support Lebanon's armed and security forces. This includes the delivery of armored personnel carriers set to arrive in the coming days.

The escalation has seen the Israeli army conducting airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. This military tension is part of a broader conflict that began on February 28 with a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran, resulting in over 1,340 casualties. In retaliation, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US military assets in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries.