French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Lebanon Sunday night for talks with authorities and to bring humanitarian aid, after earlier calling for an “immediate” end to Israeli air strikes. As he arrived, the foreign ministry announced that a second French person had been killed in Lebanon.
"Lebanon, a friend of France, already so fragile, is drawn into a war it has not chosen," said Barrot, who arrived in Beirut for a 24-hour visit as the Israeli army increased its air strike campaign, hitting the capital for the first time
“France stands alongside Lebanon during its most difficult moments."
Barrot oversaw the delivery of 12 tonnes of French humanitarian aid, with supplies to treat 1,000 serious injuries, he said on X. A second delivery is being prepared in the next few weeks.
Speaking earlier with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Barrot said Paris sought "an immediate halt" to Israeli strikes.
France also appealed for Hezbollah and its backer Iran to abstain from any action that could lead to "regional conflagration".
Two French nationals killed
As Barrot arrived, the French foreign ministry announced that a second French national had been killed in Lebanon, without giving details.
Last Monday an 87-year-old French woman was killed when her home collapsed following an explosion in the south of the country.
Later this Monday Barrot is to hold meetings about the status of the 20,000 French nationals who have remained in Lebanon, before meeting with Lebanese officials, including Mikati, as well as the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and members of the UN peacekeeping force in the south.
Barrot, newly-appointed to the Foreign Ministry post, is the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit Lebanon since Israeli air strikes intensified a week ago.
Former foreign and defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who has visited the country six times, was in Lebanon at the beginning of last week as French President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to Lebanon.
(with AFP)
