French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu emphasized on Thursday that Lebanon "doesn't need a war" with Israel and cautioned against further regional escalation amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Lecornu made these remarks during his visit to French peacekeepers stationed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stating, "Lebanon doesn't need a war, that's the least we can say." He further warned that such a conflict "could have major escalatory effects on the whole region."
The border between Lebanon and Israel has witnessed nearly daily exchanges of fire, primarily involving Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. These exchanges have resulted in 66 deaths on the Lebanese side, including 48 Hezbollah fighters and seven civilians, one of whom was a Reuters journalist. On the Israeli side, nine deaths were reported, comprising eight soldiers and one civilian.
Hezbollah has been targeting Israeli observation posts and military positions near the border. The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is scheduled to address the situation on Friday, marking his first public statement since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Minister Lecornu expressed his support for UNIFIL's role as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining oversight and deterrence during these heightened border tensions. He responded to suggestions that UNIFIL should halt its patrols by stating, "If there was ever a time in which we needed oversight and deterrence to prevent an escalation, it's now."
UNIFIL currently comprises approximately 10,000 peacekeepers, with around 700 of them being French. The mission serves as a crucial stabilizing force between Lebanon and Israel, which technically remain at war.
