During a joint press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Macron stated, “We will assist the Lebanese government as much as we can in preparing for these negotiations and in developing the necessary plan to restore full sovereignty.” Macron added that France will also deliver nearly 10 tons of humanitarian aid to Lebanon in the coming days, bringing the total amount of humanitarian aid donated by Paris to 70 tons.
Macron noted that France is ready to continue its military presence in Lebanon after the end of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission at the end of 2026. It is worth mentioning that France, in addition to its participation in the UN mission, is training the Lebanese army and supplying it with weapons and equipment.
On April 16, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a 10-day negotiation period between the two countries would begin from midnight on April 17 (Beirut time) after direct negotiations hosted by Washington on April 14 between the governments of the two countries, aimed at reaching a security agreement and lasting peace.
The Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in approximately 2,300 deaths and about 7,000 injuries since March 2.
