Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced plans to recruit additional troops and potentially deploy 8,000 soldiers to the south of the country during a Paris summit on Thursday. Mikati emphasized the importance of stability, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which marked the end of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted an international conference in Paris aimed at raising funds and mobilizing humanitarian aid for Lebanon. Mikati highlighted the extensive damage to Lebanon's infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals, and cultural heritage sites. He urged for international support to fund large-scale reconstruction projects, such as rebuilding the transport network, power grid, and water facilities.
Mikati also drew attention to the plight of over 1.2 million displaced Lebanese, including 500,000 children, as a result of the conflict. He described the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and condemned attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, calling for accountability under international law.
President Macron pledged a significant 100-million-euro aid package from France to assist Lebanon in its recovery efforts. The focus remains on providing essential aid and support to address the urgent needs of the war-torn country.
