French President Emmanuel Macron pressed both the United States and Iran to extend their two-week ceasefire agreement to Lebanon, warning that excluding the country undermines the durability of any regional peace deal.
Macron spoke directly with US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, conveying his position that Lebanon's inclusion represents a fundamental requirement for credible diplomacy.
I reiterated the need to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and France's determination to support the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to uphold the country's sovereignty and implement the Hezbollah disarmament plan
Emmanuel Macron, French President — Al-Monitor
The diplomatic intervention comes as Israel launched its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since fighting with Hezbollah erupted in March, killing more than 250 people and injuring over 1,100 others on Wednesday alone. Israeli forces targeted more than 100 locations within a 10-minute window, according to military statements.
A fundamental disagreement has emerged over Lebanon's status in the US-Iran ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed support for Trump's decision to pause attacks on Iran but emphasized the agreement does not cover Lebanon. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, serving as a key mediator, contradicted this position by stating the truce includes an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Beirut.
Al Jazeera frames Macron as a constructive diplomatic voice advocating for comprehensive regional peace, emphasizing his calls for Lebanon's inclusion and Iran's cooperation on the Strait of Hormuz. The outlet presents France's mediation efforts favorably while highlighting the contradictions in US-Israeli positions on Lebanon's exclusion.