Conflicting reports on 'French plan' to end Lebanon war

France's foreign ministry said Saturday there was "no French plan" to stop the fighting in Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

"France has supported the Lebanese authorities' openness to direct talks with Israel and has offered to facilitate them," said a ministry statement sent to AFP.

"But it is for the parties, and only the parties, to set the agenda for these talks," it added.

However, Barak Ravid, the Axios journalist who reported the plan, said

the French foreign ministry is "lying."

"There is a French plan. The headline of the document says it is a French plan. The French foreign ministry is lying. Menteurs (liars)," Ravid said on X.

He had earlier cited three sources in his Axios report as saying that France had drawn up a proposal to end the war, one that involved Lebanon recognizing the state of Israel.

A Lebanese official told AFP Saturday that it was preparing to form a delegation to negotiate with Israel in a bid to stop the war with Hezbollah.