Israel-Hamas war, Gaza genocide

[SvennoJ]

Israel, Lebanon ‘must step back from the brink’: UN official

The UN special coordinator for Lebanon warns that “neither Lebanon nor Israel can afford another round of violent conflict”.

“All actors must step back from the brink, immediately,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said on X.

Hennis-Plasschaert added in a statement that the exchange of fire across the border, known as the Blue Line, was “deeply concerning”.

“This is a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region,” the UN representative said. “A return to wider conflict would be devastating for civilians on both sides of the Blue Line and must be avoided at all costs.”

Neither Lebanon nor Israel can afford another round of violent conflict - all actors must step back from the brink, immediately… https://t.co/tNGBSqDU94

— Jeanine Hennis (@JeanineHennis) March 28, 2025

Israeli attacks on Beirut are ‘unacceptable’ ceasefire violation, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Israeli attacks on Beirut this morning were “unacceptable” and a violation of the ceasefire and that such attacks “play into the hands of Hezbollah”.

“Israel’s attacks on Lebanon are unacceptable, what has taken place is unjust and unhelpful. That’s why France will continue to stand by you to ensure and maintain your sovereignty and security,” he said, speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The two leaders met at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the country as a fragile truce with Israel increasingly comes under pressure.

Macron said the Lebanese army had been deployed throughout most of southern Lebanon and had ensured there was no Hezbollah presence there.

“We also would like to reiterate that there should be no unilateral actions by Hezbollah to violate the ceasefire,” Macron said.

“The parties must honour and respect their obligations in order not to undermine the achievements made, and the Israeli forces must pull out from the five points [they occupy] in the south of Lebanon, and residents must be allowed to return to their homes.”

Israel’s ‘malicious’ attacks trying to drag Lebanon back into circle of violence, Aoun says

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said that Israel’s latest attacks on Beirut were a “malicious attempt to bring Lebanon back into the vicious circle of violence”.

[The attacks] make us more adamant to maintain our sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory under our Lebanese army,” he said at a news conference in Paris alongside France’s President Macron.

“We appeal on all the friends of Lebanon, from Paris to Washington, to swiftly act to prevent the situation from escalating and enable Lebanon to honour all the international resolutions on all Lebanese home soil.”