A French diplomatic source revealed the content of the meetings held in Paris between Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. The source stated that President Emmanuel Macron discussed with Mikati the plan France presented weeks ago to both Lebanese and Israeli parties, as well as to the United States and other stakeholders that could play a role in achieving the goal of de-escalation at the Lebanon-Israel border.
**First Point: De-escalation Linked to Responses from Lebanon**
The source indicated that the French proposals involve several steps, the first of which is that Hezbollah withdraw some of its military capabilities and means from the border area, and that Israel cease its flights in Lebanese airspace and refrain from military activities, meaning that each party respects its obligations under UN Resolution 1701. The same source added that the Lebanese Prime Minister pledged during the meeting with Macron to return with a response regarding all of this in the coming days. The source clarified that Paris will continue its consultations with Israel, coordinating with the United States and countries that are members of the Quintet Committee on Lebanon.
In response to a question from "Al-Arabiya Net," the French diplomatic source stated that the Lebanese government had given a generally positive response to the French proposals, "but we await more specific answers from our Lebanese partners" about the proposals aimed at de-escalation at the border, linking Paris’s continued efforts for de-escalation to the responses it will receive from Lebanon.
**Second Point: Israel Supports the French Plan**
In a related context, the French source revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed to Macron his desire for Paris to continue its initiative based on the proposals presented. He explained that a delegation of high-ranking French officials recently visited Israel, and that the Israelis had hosted several French delegations at their request.
The source further explained that France sees it as important to separate the issue of stability and de-escalation along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel from the situation in the Gaza Strip, noting that Paris has the ability to engage in dialogue with all parties in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.
**Third Point: French-Italian Support for the Deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South**
Regarding the discussions between Macron and the Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, who arrived at the Élysée Palace shortly before Mikati, the French source indicated that among the topics discussed with General Aoun were "the conditions for the army's deployment south of the Litani River as stipulated in Resolution 1701." Macron informed Aoun of France’s readiness, along with its international partners led by Italy, to provide support for the Lebanese Army.
Additionally, the Lebanese Army Commander met in Paris with his French counterpart General Thierry Burkhard and Italian counterpart Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and a joint statement from the three leaders emphasized that their discussions covered regional tensions facing Lebanon. They reaffirmed "the importance of collective action to halt escalation, highlighting the essential role of international peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, UNIFIL, as a key actor in peace and security and the protection of civilians in the region, in close cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces, which possess full sovereignty over their territory." The statement reiterated "support for the Lebanese Army, the guarantor of national stability," emphasizing that "France and Italy's commitment to Lebanon's security and sovereignty remains a priority."
**Fourth Point: Berri Should Convene Parliament to Elect a President**
On the matter of the presidential vacuum in Lebanon, a French diplomatic source stated that the Lebanese parliament must convene quickly to elect a president, questioning: "What are the conditions under which Speaker Nabih Berri can call for the parliament to vote?" He noted that France's message is clear, stating that "Lebanese political parties must take responsibility to resolve the institutional crisis that weakens Lebanon, amid a region that is the most dangerous in the area."
The Élysée Palace issued a statement following President Macron's reception of Mikati and Aoun, stating that Macron informed them of his determination to continue providing the support needed by the Lebanese Army. He also reaffirmed France's commitment to do everything possible to avoid escalating violence between Lebanon and Israel, and the statement noted that Macron had recently contacted Speaker Nabih Berri by phone regarding ongoing communications to monitor the situation in Lebanon.
