French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet arrived in Lebanon today in an attempt to mediate a de-escalation of tensions on the border with Israel between Israeli forces and the Lebanese Shia group "Hezbollah", reported the Associated Press, quoted by BTA.
Sejourne met with the UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, as well as with high-ranking Lebanese representatives, including the speaker of the parliament, the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, the foreign minister and the acting prime minister, AP notes.
"As for southern Lebanon, the war is already here, even if we don't call it by name, and the civilian population is paying the price," Sejourne said, quoted by AP.
The agency recalls that with the beginning of the conflict between Israel and the radical Palestinian group "Hamas" in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the exchange of fire between Israeli forces and "Hezbollah" along Israel's northern border. The Lebanese group expresses solidarity with "Hamas".
Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 350 people in Lebanon, most of them Hezbollah fighters, while shelling across the border has killed at least 10 civilians and 12 Israeli soldiers, the Associated Press added. . In addition, tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have left their homes to save themselves.