France Urges Israel to Safeguard Lebanese Civilians, Infrastructure Amid Rising Tensions

France has called on Israel to ensure the protection of Lebanon’s infrastructure and civilian population as military tensions escalate in the region.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the appeal during a telephone conversation on Tuesday with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry.

Barrot stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and reaffirmed France’s solidarity with victims of recent Iranian attacks. However, he underscored that Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be respected and that civilians should not bear the brunt of the hostilities.

While condemning the firing of rockets and drones by Hezbollah into Israel, the French minister emphasized that non-combatants and critical infrastructure in Lebanon must be shielded from further violence.

The talks also covered wider regional security concerns linked to Iran, particularly its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Barrot highlighted the importance of pursuing a long-term and coordinated response to destabilizing activities in the region, reiterating that diplomacy remains key to achieving sustainable and collective security.