Israel has been launching major airstrikes on Lebanon for the past month. According to the Lebanese authorities, the strikes have killed more than 2,000 civilians and displaced over 1 million.
The Israeli army has also killed several Hezbollah leaders, aiming to weaken the Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group, which is based in southern Lebanon. The US, Germany and several Sunni Arab states classify Hezbollah as a terrorist group, while the European Union only describes its armed wing as terrorist.
Hezbollah has launched many missile attacks on northern Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza, since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war. Tens of thousands of Israelis have fled their homes near the Lebanese border, and around 110,000 Lebanese fled the border region ahead of the Israeli escalation.
France hopes that its historically close relationship with Lebanon can help to bring about a cease-fire and long-term solution for the region. Ahead of an international aid conference in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to "provide humanitarian aid, support the international community and support the Lebanese armed forces boost security, especially in southern Lebanon."
The French Foreign Ministry said it expected representatives from Lebanon's partner states, the United Nations, the EU and other international, national and regional organizations and civil society to attend the conference to "support Lebanon's sovereignty."
"France has always had a privileged relationship with Lebanon, and this conference should contribute to a peaceful solution to the conflict," a diplomatic........