France notes the continued withdrawal of the Israel Defence Forces from southern Lebanon. It is an important step in implementing the commitments made under the cessation of hostilities concluded between Lebanon and Israel on 26 November 2024. France notes that the Israel Defence Forces maintain a presence at five positions on Lebanese territory. It reiterates the need for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory as soon as possible, in accordance with the provisions of the ceasefire agreement, and invites all the parties to take up its proposal: UNIFIL, including the French contingent, could be deployed at those five positions in the immediate proximity of the Blue Line to replace the Israel Defence Forces and guarantee the population’s security. Within the Mechanism, alongside the United States, France will continue to take on all the missions set out in the agreement of 26 November 2024.
France welcomes the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), in close coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, to the positions ceded by the Israeli armed forces. This repositioning will enable the LAF to conduct clean-up operations and support the population’s return under the best security conditions.
In this context, France reiterates its support for UNIFIL’s action and recalls its vital role in the region’s security.
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