France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged "Israel" to refrain from carrying out a ground incursion in Lebanon during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, their first direct exchange since last summer.

"I called on the Israeli prime minister to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and to refrain from a ground offensive," Macron said on X, after Israeli ground forces pushed into several border towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

I spoke today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as with the President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, to discuss the situation in Lebanon, which is very concerning.

I reiterated the need…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 4, 2026

The Macron-Netanyahu phone call comes amid a sharp escalation along Lebanon’s southern border.

The Israeli occupation launched an aggression campaign across Lebanon after Hezbollah launched retaliatory attacks on "Israel" in response to ongoing violations of the ceasefire that took effect in November 2024. 

Macron stressed that Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be preserved as hostilities intensified, underscoring France’s longstanding ties with Lebanon.

The French president also held talks with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. According to Macron, he emphasized the need for Hezbollah "to immediately cease its attacks against Israel and beyond."