Aoun condemns Israeli attacks and backs renewal of international forces

President Joseph Aoun, receiving French Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin in the presence of Minister Adel Nassar, said Israel’s successive attacks, the killing of civilians, children and women, and the destruction, burning and bulldozing of homes and property are condemned, rejected and unjustified crimes. He said they undermine the framework agreement and thwart all efforts to halt the escalation in the south and the region as a whole. Aoun added that Lebanon supports renewing the mandate of the international forces in the south and is working with President Macron to facilitate the renewal, welcoming the French-Italian initiative to form a European force to fill the vacuum after UNIFIL’s withdrawal.