A French diplomatic source warned that the chances of a comprehensive war between Israel and Hezbollah have become very high. Meanwhile, U.S. presidential advisor Amos Hochstein confirmed that the U.S. aims to keep the conflict in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel at the lowest possible level, emphasizing the importance of residents returning to their homes in the southern towns, as well as on the Israeli northern border, according to "Asharq Al-Awsat."
A senior French diplomat stated that France still holds onto the possibility of making some progress in reducing tensions and preventing war. The diplomat asserted that French efforts to stop the fighting at the Lebanese border are not one-sided, meaning they are certainly not biased toward the Israeli side. He indicated that recent statements by French officials have been firm with the Israelis regarding settlers in the West Bank and the necessity of respecting international law and human rights.
The French diplomat noted that the situation in Lebanon has reached a very dangerous level, according to "Asharq Al-Awsat." He said that with each passing day, the likelihood of a comprehensive war increases. Therefore, we cannot wait for the war in Gaza to stop to achieve a ceasefire at the Lebanese border. The French diplomat clarified that the initiative put forth by the French side has not yet entered the mediation stage, indicating that the current situation is one of presenting proposals for consultation and building upon them to ensure the infrastructure for launching negotiations.
