France’s foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, is making significant efforts to prevent a potential war between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon. The tensions between the two sides have been escalating, with recent tit-for-tat strikes raising concerns of a full-blown conflict.
Sejourne has proposed a plan that includes Hezbollah pulling back its elite unit 10 km from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon. This proposal has been discussed with key partners, including the United States, which has its own efforts to ease tensions in the region.
The situation became more precarious after Iran launched missiles on Israel in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike that targeted Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus. More Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon overnight, close to the United Nations’ peacekeeping force UNIFIL.
Sejourne, after meeting with Lebanese officials and UNIFIL commanders, expressed optimism about the progress made with the French proposals. However, Hezbollah has stated that they will not engage in concrete discussions until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the conflict with Hamas continues.
Israel has also expressed its desire to restore calm along its northern border with Lebanon to allow displaced Israelis to return without fear of rocket attacks. The French initiative has been seen as a significant step towards peace and security in the region, but there is still a lack of consensus among the Lebanese on the proposed plan.
Sejourne will continue discussions with Arab and Western states in Riyadh before relaying the latest Lebanese positions to Israel. The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon, hoping to prevent a devastating conflict in the region.