Paris says actively engaged with parties to prevent Lebanon-Israel escalation
The French Foreign Ministry has announced its commitment to preventing escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, stating that it is “actively engaged on all fronts to achieve this goal.”
In an interview with Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel, Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, emphasized France’s efforts “to prevent regional escalation, particularly along the Lebanese-Israeli border.”
Lemoine added that Paris was also “pleased” with the Lebanese authorities’ “positive” response to its recent paper that is aimed at easing tensions along the border.
At least 323 people have been killed in Lebanon since the beginning of fighting on October 8, mainly Hezbollah fighters but also 56 civilians.
In Israel, at least 10 soldiers and seven civilians have been killed in the cross-border exchanges, the Israeli army says.
The fighting has also displaced tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the border and Israel has warned that it might launch an operation against Hezbollah to secure its residents’ return.
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/304140 |