France has offered to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) if they deploy to the southern border of Lebanon with Israel, where tensions have been escalating between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. The French government believes that the presence of Lebanese government forces in the region could help to calm the situation and prevent further violence. This was disclosed to Breaking Defense By A French Official.
According to a French official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, France is “standing by the LAF” and is considering various initiatives to support their operations in the south. One such initiative is the rescheduling of an international conference in Paris, which was originally planned for February but was canceled. The conference aims to gather support and security contributions from friendly nations for the LAF’s southern operations.
The official emphasized that France’s support is contingent on the Lebanese government’s decision to deploy the LAF to the border region. The goal of this initiative is to help Lebanon maintain stability and security along its border with Israel, and to prevent the situation from escalating into a wider conflict.
Firstly, it aims to reinforce the authority of the Lebanese government in a region where Hezbollah has significant influence. Secondly, it seeks to reduce the risk of violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which could have devastating consequences for the region. Finally, it hopes to promote a political solution to the crisis, by encouraging the Lebanese government to take ownership of the security situation in the south.The situation remains volatile, with both Israel and Hezbollah exchanging fire and rhetoric.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has announced that it has approved and validated operational plans for a potential offensive in Lebanon. This comes as Israeli forces and Hezbollah engage in cross-border exchanges of fire, according to AFP reports.
Israel’s Operation Plan For Lebanon
The military statement also indicated that decisions were made to increase the readiness of troops in the field, suggesting a potential escalation of tensions.By supporting the LAF’s deployment to the southern border, France hopes to achieve several objectives.
The international community is watching with concern, as the potential for a wider conflict looms large. France’s offer of support to the LAF is seen as a positive step towards de-escalation, but much work remains to be done to resolve the crisis. UN already has called on Israel to stop it’s military operations in Palestine.