DistantNews
Support us
France seeks UN Security Council session after Israel captures Lebanon's Beaufort Castle
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

France seeks UN Security Council session after Israel captures Lebanon's Beaufort Castle

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • France has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting following Israel's capture of the Beaufort Castle in Lebanon.
  • French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that while Israel has a right to self-defense, extending military operations into Lebanon is unjustifiable.
  • Barrot also warned that escalating Israeli actions could undermine potential US-Iran agreements regarding regional de-escalation.

France has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after Israeli forces captured the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced the request, emphasizing that while Israel has the right to defend itself against Hezbollah attacks, the prolonged military operations and deepening incursions into Lebanese territory are unjustifiable.

I have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council because, while we recognize Israel's right, like any country, to legitimate defense against Hezbollah's attacks, nothing can justify the extension of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the occupation ever deeper into Lebanese territory.

— Jean-Noël BarrotFrench Foreign Minister, explaining the call for a UN Security Council meeting.

Barrot described the advance of Israeli forces into Lebanon as a "major mistake." He argued that such actions violate Israel's commitments and international law, especially since a ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since April 17. "Every village bombed, every village occupied, every civilian killed strengthens Hezbollah," Barrot warned, highlighting the risks of further escalation.

Every village bombed, every village occupied, every civilian killed strengthens Hezbollah.

— Jean-Noël BarrotFrench Foreign Minister, warning about the consequences of escalating Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

The French minister also expressed concern that continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah could weaken the momentum of a potential agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ceasing hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon. He cautioned against relying solely on statements, stressing the need for concrete actions and detailed agreements, referencing past nuclear program discussions with Iran.

words that will not be accompanied by deeds

— Jean-Noël BarrotFrench Foreign Minister, expressing skepticism about potential US-Iran agreements.

Barrot recalled a decade-old agreement that secured "a verifiable, significant limitation of Iran's nuclear capabilities." He suggested that achieving similar outcomes requires meticulous attention to detail, including defining limits on nuclear activities and establishing verification terms, beyond broad declarations of principle.

So it is possible, but again, it requires, beyond grand statements of principle, the processing of details.

— Jean-Noël BarrotFrench Foreign Minister, discussing the need for detailed agreements on Iran's nuclear program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog