BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut.
Mikati said that halting the “Israeli aggression against Lebanon” is essential for restoring peace and stability in the region.
“The key to the solution is to put an end to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and to revive the appeal launched by the United States and France in favor of a ceasefire,” Mikati said, according to a release from his office.
His remarks come in the wake of escalating violence, with Israel intensifying its airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in southern Beirut.
Barrot’s visit, which marks the first by a foreign diplomat since the resurgence of hostilities, highlights the urgent need for international intervention. The French envoy arrived in Beirut on Sunday, amid reports of significant destruction in the capital, including a deadly strike on a building in the city center.
Mikati also stressed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was established to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
This resolution calls for the disarmament of armed groups in Lebanon and the cessation of hostilities, principles that Mikati believes are crucial for long-term peace.
