French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israel to cease its military operations in Lebanon, respect its sovereignty, and avoid escalating the conflict. Speaking to reporters after a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday, Macron affirmed France’s support for Israel’s security and existence but highlighted disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Reuters.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center reported that since October 8 of last year, the Israeli aggression has resulted in 2,412 deaths and 11,267 injuries in Lebanon.
Fighting continues in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israeli forces. Over the past 12 months, following Hezbollah’s declaration of opening a front to support Gaza, operations have intensified daily along the border from Ras Naqoura to the Shebaa Farms.
Since mid-September, the confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated, culminating in the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on September 27 by an airstrike in South Beirut, which also killed Ali Karaki, the southern front commander of Hezbollah, among other leaders.
In early October, the Israeli forces announced the commencement of a ground operation in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and positions in villages near the border, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict and raising concerns of a potential regional war.
The Israeli raids have caused extensive destruction, displacing over 1.2 million people.
