President Macron visits Lebanon

For the first time in four years, French President Emmanuel Macron went on a visit to Beirut, greeted by Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the airport; Macron said his visit was a message of gratitude.

Macron met with the newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun before the two heads of state held a joint meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Mikati and Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri.

In the name of my people, I want you to witness that the faith of Lebanese in their country and state has been re-established, and the faith of the world in Lebanon must also return since the essence of Lebanon has come back to life.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun

• French president on visit to Beirut
  

  French president on visit to Beirut

  French President Emmanuel Macron is on a visit to the Lebanese capital which comes as the first to the war-torn country since the election of president Joseph Aoun.

When you were subject to the aggression, we helped Lebanon with humanitarian assistance, and now also we will help you in re-establishing your sovereignty on all Lebanese territories on the basis of implementing the ceasefire agreement.

French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron earlier met with the French and American representatives of the committee monitoring the mechanism of ceasefire in Lebanon, which was put in place after 14 months of confrontations along the southern border and Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.

• UN resolution key to restoring calm to southern Lebanon
  

  Mikati: Implementation of UN resolution key to restoring calm to southern Lebanon

  Two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts.

Analysts look at the historic role of France as the colonial power in Lebanon shifting towards more of a mediating role with the US putting all its weight in Lebanese politics.

Macron is planning for making an international conference for Lebanon, for raising funds, for rehabilitating, for reconstruction, for the support of Lebanon and so on.

And I think that he is trying to find a place for himself, especially when he found that the Americans and the Saudis are taking the position now, and he is in the back seat now.

Mohammad Gassem, Political Analyst

The French president said he urged an accelerated implementation of the Israeli withdrawal and the ceasefire agreement to allow for the rebuilding process to begin.

With the continuous Israeli violations and Israeli threats of prolonging the occupation period, Lebanon expects guarantors like France to enforce Israel's compliance, especially since both the US and France have been vocal on the need to implement UN resolution, 1701, which demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

• Israel bombs Lebanon in new violation of truce with Hezbollah
  

  Israel heavily bombs Lebanon in new violation of truce with Hezbollah

  The Israeli military conducts airstrikes on Lebanon in yet another violation of a ceasefire deal with the Hezbollah resistance movement.

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