French FM Lands in Beirut After Israel Trip

Stéphane Séjourné, France’s newly appointed foreign minister, arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday and had a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Séjourné’s visit to Lebanon is part of a broader tour of the Middle East, which also included stops in Egypt on Saturday, Jordan on Sunday, and Israel on Monday.

During his visit to Israel, Séjourné spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about issues concerning Lebanon, which was under French protection until 1943. Their discussions included the topic of Hezbollah, a group based in Lebanon, which has been involved in conflicts with Israel, particularly during the recent Israeli conflict in Gaza.

Séjourné emphasized France’s commitment to preventing further escalation of regional conflicts. This trip marks Séjourné’s first official visit to the Middle East since he assumed the role of France’s foreign minister. The visit comes on the heels of France and Qatar mediating the first agreement between Israel and Hamas following a weeklong ceasefire in November.