Paris: France has reiterated its call for Lebanon's territorial integrity to be fully respected, particularly in light of ongoing ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel. This statement was made by the French Deputy Defense Minister, Alice Rufo, who emphasized that respecting Lebanon's integrity should not be equated with occupying its territory.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rufo stressed the importance of extending the current ceasefire and highlighted the need for ample time to facilitate successful negotiations. She underscored that prolonging the ceasefire is beneficial and must be adhered to in order to improve the likelihood of reaching a comprehensive agreement. Rufo warned against rushing the negotiation process, citing that previous diplomatic efforts have shown that complex negotiations require time to avoid a swift escalation in hostilities.

France has expressed its readiness to support Lebanon's diplomatic efforts, particularly those aimed at ensuring the state's exclusive control over arms, especially in the southern regions of the country. Rufo praised the Lebanese authorities for their recent diplomatic actions, describing them as courageous, and supported the idea of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

Rufo further conveyed France's support to both Lebanese officials and armed forces. She reiterated France's commitment to helping Lebanon restore its full sovereignty and ensuring that its territorial integrity is respected.

The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, follows a period of intense conflict that resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israel plans to maintain control over areas it occupied in southern Lebanon during its recent military actions. Since March 2, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,300 people, with over 7,500 wounded and more than 1 million displaced, based on official figures.