Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron called on the Lebanese government to continue implementing the plan to disarm Hezbollah “with determination.” He considers the completion of the first phase of the plan to be an “encouraging” step towards restoring full Lebanese state sovereignty.
Macron’s remarks come amid mounting US pressure and fears of an expansion of Israeli military operations into Lebanese territory. Last September, the Lebanese army, acting on government orders, began implementing a plan to disarm Hezbollah. This followed the war that lasted more than a year and ended with a ceasefire in November 2014.
Despite these steps, Israel continues to launch airstrikes, particularly in southern Lebanon. It expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of Lebanese measures and accuses Hezbollah of rebuilding its military capabilities.
Tel Aviv, in statements issued on Thursday, considered the government’s efforts
The Lebanese army “is an encouraging start, but it is far from sufficient.”
And the Lebanese army’s plan consists of five phases. The second phase covers the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, north of Sidon. This area is about 40 kilometers south of Beirut.
However, Hezbollah has declared its refusal to relinquish its weapons in this area. It described the Lebanese government’s decision as a “sin.”
The French position reflects growing political support for the official Lebanese approach. This comes at a time when security and political challenges continue to cast a shadow over the country’s future stability.
