Arrr! France be implorin' the swashbucklin' Lebanese scallywags to tame the waters near Israel's shore, mateys!
2023-12-18
Arr, the landlubbers of Hezbollah be clashin' blades with the scurvy dogs of Israel near the border, whilst France's foreign minister be gallivantin' in Beiruit, beggin' the scallywags to put an end to this blasted mayhem!
France's foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, visited Lebanon after her trip to Israel and urged Lebanese leaders to reduce tensions along the border with Israel. She warned that the Israel-Hamas war could potentially spread to other parts of the region. During her visit, Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah exchanged fire with Israeli troops along the tense frontier. The border has seen violent exchanges since October 8, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Colonna held talks with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the situation. Lebanon has been facing an economic crisis that has significantly destabilized the country. Israel and Hezbollah are bitter enemies and last fought a war in 2006. Hezbollah is believed to have a large number of rockets and missiles aimed at Israel. Mikati called on Israel to implement a U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war, which includes the requirement for the border area in southern Lebanon to be free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than Lebanese government forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Hezbollah should not have a military presence in the border region. Colonna expressed concern about the conflict spreading and urged all parties to avoid escalation. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also emphasized the need for a negotiated outcome to reassure residents of northern Israel. Recent incidents include an Israeli drone strike near a Hezbollah funeral and Israeli strikes that killed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed to target an Israeli Iron Dome battery, while the Israeli military struck Hezbollah targets.