France 'could' support Lebanon if it wants to deploy troops in South
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France says it might provide support to Beirut if Lebanon decides to deploy regular soldiers on the southern border amid escalations with the Israeli occupation.
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Lebanese army soldiers sit on their armored vehicles next to the wall that separates Lebanon from occupied Palestine in the southeastern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon, Friday, October 13, 2023 (AP)
France is contemplating providing support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) if Beirut decides to deploy them on the southern border as part of a security mission in the face of the Israeli occupation forces, according to a report by military news website Breaking Defense.
The report, published on Friday, cites an anonymous French official highlighting Paris' potential involvement on Lebanon's southern border, though it is unclear what their intentions might be.
"We need to be prepared to facilitate an increased presence of the LAF in South Lebanon to contribute to the security of Lebanese people and to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and territory," the official stated.
France is evaluating various initiatives in Lebanon, including the possibility of organizing a conference to rally international support for the operation on Lebanon's southern border, the official added.
However, the French official's comments were made prior to the recent escalation in tensions between the Israeli occupation and Lebanon, Breaking Defense noted.
The situation has significantly deteriorated following recent developments. On Tuesday, the Israeli occupation announced that it had approved and validated operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon.
'Israel' wants to escalate
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz subsequently declared that the occupation was on the verge of making a decision to "change the rules" against the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, threatening that both Hezbollah and Lebanon would face severe consequences in the event of a new war.
Senior commanders also decided to "accelerate the readiness of the forces on the ground," according to the military statement.
Simultaneously, the Pentagon expressed its desire to avoid an expanded regional war in the Middle East.
When asked by Al Mayadeen's correspondent about the Israeli move to approve operational plans, Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, reiterated Washington's commitment to fostering a diplomatic resolution.
"We remain concerned about tensions along the border and we continue to encourage a diplomatic solution," he stressed.
"Preventing a wider regional conflict has been a primary focus for this department and the US government since October 7," he further claimed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, "I'm not going to get into hypotheticals and speculate on what might happen other than to say no one wants to see a wider regional war."
US envoy urges immediate diplomacy to halt escalation in the North
Earlier the same day, US envoy Amos Hochstein called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions on the northern border between Lebanon and "Israel" during his visit to Beirut.
"It's in everyone's interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically — that is both achievable and it is urgent," he stressed.
Hochstein held discussions with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in al-Quds the previous day.
"Speaker Berri and I had a very a good discussion," Hochstein said.
"We discussed the current security and political situation in Lebanon as well as the deal on the table right now with respect to Gaza, which also provides an opportunity to end the conflict across the Blue Line," he stated.
"A ceasefire in Gaza and, or, an alternative diplomatic solution could also bring the conflict across the Blue Line to an end" and permit those who have been displaced to return to northern "Israel" and southern Lebanon, the envoy stressed.
It is worth noting that the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon continues to pound Israeli military sites and soldiers' gatherings along the border with occupied Palestine in support of Gaza and its Resistance since October 8.
