Macron asserts that Hezbollah should not jeopardize Lebanon’s sovereign interests

On Lebanon’s Independence Day, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron, which was later published by the Grand Serail on Tuesday. This publication occurred just before Mikati’s meeting with Macron’s envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Beirut.

In this letter, Macron highlighted the potential negative impact of Lebanon’s ongoing presidential vacancy on the nation’s capacity to resolve its crises and avert a decline in security, especially concerning the conflict in Gaza. Macron voiced concerns about Lebanon’s potential involvement in the Hamas-Israel conflict, suggesting it could lead to grave consequences for the country. He implicitly criticized Hezbollah, although not explicitly named, accusing the group of acting against Lebanon’s interests.

Macron’s letter clearly stated that no group should exploit Lebanese territory in a manner that could undermine the nation’s sovereign interests. This statement was issued ahead of Le Drian’s visit, where he emphasized the urgency of electing a new President during his discussions with Mikati.