France’s Macron calls on Israel to expedite its withdrawal from Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel on Friday to expedite its troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as the deadline for this pullout approaches in accordance with the ceasefire agreement that concluded last year’s conflict with Hezbollah.

During his visit to Beirut, Macron emphasized the necessity for Lebanon’s military to maintain a complete monopoly on arms and expressed France’s commitment to enhancing the deployment of the Lebanese army in the southern region.

“We require a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces,” Macron stated, standing alongside Lebanon’s newly elected president, Joseph Aoun, who previously served as the commander of the Lebanese military. “We advocate for the strengthening of the Lebanese armed forces and their presence in the southern part of the country,” he added. “The Lebanese armed forces are essential to Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
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Macron is the first foreign leader to visit Beirut following Aoun’s election by the Lebanese parliament on January 9, marking a significant shift in the nation’s power dynamics after the war that considerably weakened Iran-backed Hezbollah. The ceasefire, effective from November 27 and facilitated by the United States and France, mandates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon within 60 days, alongside the removal of all Hezbollah fighters and weapons from the area.