The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed deep concern on Tuesday, October 8, when he appeared on France 2

He reacted strongly to recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, who threatened Lebanon with “destruction and suffering comparable to that seen in Gaza” if the country failed to rid itself of Hezbollah. Calling the remarks a “provocation”, the Minister warned of the consequences of such an action.

A threat of destabilization for an already fragile country

“If these threats were to materialize, Lebanon, a country that is a friend of France and already very fragile, would be plunged into chaos, creating an even more complex security situation for Israel,” warned Jean-Noël Barrot. The Minister recalled the seriousness of the situation in Lebanon, adding that France remained at the country’s side to provide crucial support in these difficult times.

France provides substantial humanitarian aid

In response to the emergency, France has sent over 27 tons of medical equipment, medicines and basic necessities such as blankets and hygiene kits. These resources were transported by French and Qatari Ministry of Defense aircraft. At the same time, some 50 vulnerable French nationals were repatriated on the return flight of this humanitarian operation.

A risk of escalation with international repercussions

Jean-Noël Barrot also stressed that this conflict could have repercussions far beyond the region. He warned of the impact on energy prices, the risk of terrorism and migratory pressures in Europe. “A lot of this is being played out in the Middle East”, he insisted, calling for tensions to be contained to avoid a general conflagration.