French FM urges US to pressure Israel to end military actions in Lebanon

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, has called on Israel to end its military actions in Lebanon and argued that the United States should apply pressure on Israel to do so after Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon.

Speaking to the French broadcaster Franceinfo, Barrot also said France is continuing efforts to organise an international conference aimed at raising support for the Lebanese army, Caliber.Az reports, citing France24.

Israel stated on June 18 that it does not rule out conducting strikes beyond a designated military control zone in southern Lebanon, an area where Israeli forces remain active.

This zone reportedly spans large parts of the south.

The ground operation by Israel in Lebanon, launched in response to rocket fire from Hezbollah, has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on June 19 killed 18 people, according to Lebanese state media, while the Israeli military said four soldiers were killed, its first losses since a US-Iran interim deal, which calls for the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, was signed.

US-Iran talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland have been postponed.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov