Paris, June 1: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, following a request from France.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “the increasing military presence in southern Lebanon is unjustifiable” and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Prior to Macron, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had also suggested approaching the UNSC, expressing concerns over Israeli occupation of Beaufort Castle.
In an interview with BFM TV, Barrot said, “I have requested the UNSC to convene an emergency meeting. We acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defense, as does every nation, but the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its increasing occupation of Lebanese territory cannot be justified in any way.”
Lebanon entered the Middle East conflict on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel. This attack was in response to airstrikes carried out by the US and Israel on February 28, which resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 17 but has never been fully implemented. Both sides accuse each other of daily violations of the ceasefire and justify their actions as responses to the other’s provocations.
Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for deeper military action in Lebanon, describing Sunday’s operations as a “significant shift” in their campaign. On Monday, Netanyahu and Israel Katz ordered the IDF to target Hezbollah positions in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh.
According to Netanyahu, Hezbollah has repeatedly violated ceasefire rules and continues to attack Israeli cities.
US media reports indicate that on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing ongoing diplomatic talks and emphasizing that Hezbollah must cease its attacks first.