Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanese President Jozef Aoun reiterated his call for a ceasefire and the commencement of negotiations with Israel to halt the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday. The meeting occurred as Barrot concluded a “solidarity” visit to Lebanon, according to Lebanese officials.
The war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalated on March 2nd, following a Hezbollah claim that its rocket fire towards Israel was in response to the deaths of senior Iranian officials, including Ali Khamenei, in reported Israeli-American strikes within Iran. Israel has responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in over one thousand fatalities, according to Lebanese authorities. The Israeli military reports two soldiers have been killed in clashes in southern Lebanon.
President Aoun emphasized “the necessity of stopping the firing and providing the necessary guarantees for its success by the concerned parties,” according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency. He affirmed that his previously announced initiative for a negotiated settlement remains in effect, but that continued military escalation hinders its implementation.
On March 9th, Aoun proposed a four-point initiative that includes “establishing a complete ceasefire” with Israel, “providing the necessary logistical support” to the Lebanese army for “disarming Hezbollah and its depots and warehouses,” and initiating “direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under international sponsorship.”
During his visit, Minister Barrot inspected a school near Beirut that has been converted into a shelter for displaced persons. In a post on X, he stated, “In solidarity with the Lebanese people, who have been dragged into a war they did not choose, we are doubling our humanitarian aid to Lebanon to 17 million euros.” The French Foreign Ministry confirmed Barrot’s visit was intended to demonstrate “France’s support and solidarity with the Lebanese people.”
Barrot met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in addition to President Aoun. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after a European Union summit in Brussels, indicated that “the subject of direct negotiations requires the readiness of the delegations and the official approval of the Israeli side.” Macron expressed France’s willingness to “facilitate these talks by hosting them in Paris.”
However, Macron dismissed any suggestion that a French proposal would include a formal recognition of Israel by Lebanon, following reports from the American news site Axios that a draft French proposal included such a provision.
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