French foreign minister: Iran-US ceasefire must include Lebanon

France does not support Israeli military operations on Lebanese territory and believes the ceasefire agreed between the U.S. and Iran should also extend to Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on radio France Inter.

“Lebanon must not become a victim of a government frustrated that a ceasefire was reached between the U.S. and Iran. Destroying Lebanon, destroying the Lebanese state, will not eliminate Hezbollah; on the contrary, it will strengthen it. Therefore, Lebanon must absolutely be included in this fragile temporary ceasefire, which should allow negotiations to begin,” the minister said.

Barrot placed responsibility for the escalation with Israel on Hezbollah, while simultaneously condemning “unacceptable” Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory on April 8, which killed more than 250 people. “These attacks are especially unacceptable because they threaten the temporary ceasefire achieved between the U.S. and Iran,” he added.