France's President Emmanuel Macron addresses the media following a European Union Summit in Brussels. AFP
"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 at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where the two leaders discussed economic reforms and efforts to stabilise Lebanon.
His comments came after Lebanese state media reported an Israeli strike on southern Beirut, the first such attack near the capital since the ceasefire largely halted hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war that saw Israel launch a ground invasion of Lebanon.
Macron said that he would discuss the attack with US President Donald Trump "in the coming hours" and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within two days, AFP reported.
"There is no activity that justifies such strikes," Macron said. "It is an absolute necessity that the framework that we defined, and that was agreed to by Lebanon and Israel, is duly respected. Today it was unilaterally not respected by Israel."
Israel had provided no information or evidence of any action that could justify the attack, Macron added.
Aoun, speaking alongside Macron, denounced "any odious attempts to pull Lebanon back into a storm of violence".
Under the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Lebanon's military was to deploy in the south alongside UN peacekeepers as Israeli forces withdrew over a 60-day period, later extended to 18 February.
Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River—about 30km (20 miles) from the border—and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
Macron said the Lebanese army had been deployed across most of southern Lebanon and had ensured there was no Hezbollah presence there.
"We also reiterate that Hezbollah must not take unilateral actions to violate the ceasefire," he said.
Despite the withdrawal deadline expiring on 18 February, Israel continues to occupy five locations in southern Lebanon in clear violation of the November ceasefire. The UN has called the incomplete pullout a breach of a Security Council resolution.
"The parties must honour their obligations and avoid undermining progress. Israeli forces must withdraw from the five occupied points in southern Lebanon, and residents must be allowed to return to their homes."
A committee involving the US, France, Lebanon, Israel and UN peacekeepers, tasked with monitoring ceasefire violations, has failed to hold Israel accountable for its repeated breaches since the truce took effect.
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