Lebanon responds to French paper

On Friday, Abdallah Bou Habib, the Caretaker Foreign Minister of Lebanon, had a meeting with the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Herve Magro, during which he presented Lebanon’s formal reply to a proposal put forward by France aimed at de-escalating tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Bou Habib expressed Lebanon’s gratitude for France’s mediation efforts and described the French proposal as a significant move toward achieving peace and security in southern Lebanon. He emphasized Lebanon’s commitment to peace, advocating for the full enactment of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 without seeking conflict.

Al-Jadeed TV reported that Lebanon’s response included a willingness to immediately implement Resolution 1701, provided that Israel also commits to its conditions. Additionally, Lebanon showed openness to restarting tripartite meetings in Naqoura involving UNIFIL and representatives from both the Lebanese and Israeli militaries, as mentioned by al-Jadeed.

According to an official who spoke to The Associated Press, the French plan suggests a withdrawal of Hezbollah forces by 10 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Since October 8, there has been an ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. The conflict has resulted in the death of at least 322 people on the Lebanese side, including Hezbollah fighters and 56 civilians, and 17 Israelis, comprising 10 soldiers and seven civilians. The skirmishes have also led to the displacement of thousands from their homes on both sides, with Israel cautioning it might undertake an operation against Hezbollah to ensure the safety and return of its citizens.