French President Emmanuel Macron urged Hezbollah on Saturday to “immediately cease” strikes against Israel, reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.
“A ceasefire must be put in place immediately in Lebanon,” said Macron in a meeting with Lebanese Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri.
Hezbollah's strikes against Israel must “cease immediately”, added the head of state as the Lebanese Islamist movement fired, according to the Israeli army, some 320 projectiles towards Israel during Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, from Friday evening to sunset on Saturday.
Emmanuel Macron also expressed his “deep concern at the intensification of Israeli strikes in Lebanon and their dramatic consequences for civilian populations”, the Elysée stressed. Nine people died in new Israeli raids on Saturday, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
During his meeting with Berri, Macron called on the Lebanese to “come together for the unity and stability of the country”, inviting all parties to “face this new ordeal together” by supporting “an inclusive political agenda based on the election of a president who will guarantee national unity”.
France will continue its efforts to mobilize the international community within the framework of the International Conference in Support of the People and Sovereignty of Lebanon, to be held in Paris on October 24.
Finally, Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed “France's commitment to UNIFIL” (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and “reiterated its indignation at the unjustifiable targeting of peacekeepers recently”.
Five peacekeepers were wounded in 48 hours, according to UNIFIL, which accused Israeli troops of “repeatedly” and “deliberately” firing on its positions.
With AFP
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