French President Macron and UN chief Guterres urge Israeli military to leave south Lebanon

Visits to Beirut are being seen as show of support for Lebanon’s new leadership

French President Emmanuel Macron and UN chief António Guterres have called on the Israeli military to withdraw from south Lebanon, during separate visits to the country.

The visits are a show of support for Lebanon after its parliament recently elected a new president and prime minister-designate, ending more than two years of political stalemate.

They come as the January 26 deadline to fully implement a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah approaches. One of the terms of the deal is that Israel must completely withdraw from south Lebanon and the Lebanese Army – alongside UN peacekeepers (Unifil) – moves into those positions.

Alongside its bombardment of Lebanon, Israel launched a ground invasion last year – with some soldiers still in Lebanese territory and continuing to demolish border villages.

“There have been results … but they must be accelerated and long-lasting,” Mr Macron said, alongside Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun. “There needs to be complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the Lebanese Army must hold total monopoly of any weapons.” Mr Aoun was until last Thursday the commander of the Lebanese Army.

Under the terms of the deal, which is based around UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah must also withdraw to the north of the Litani River.

“The continued occupation by the [Israeli army] inside the Unifil area of operations and the conduct of military operations in Lebanese territory are violations of resolution 1701 and pose continued risk to your safety and security,” Mr Guterres told peacekeepers in the border town of Naqoura, where the headquarters of Unifil are.

Mr Guterres also revealed that since the November 27 ceasefire, UN peacekeepers had found more than 100 weapons caches that he said belonged “to Hezbollah or other armed groups” in south Lebanon. Mr Macron also announced that Paris would in the coming weeks host an international reconstruction conference for Lebanon

“This is a message of gratitude,” Mr Macron said at the airport as he made his first trip to Lebanon since visiting Beirut days after the August 2020 port blast there. The explosion killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and devastated large parts of the capital.

Mr Macron went to the eastern Beirut neighbourhood of Gemmayze that was severely damaged by the blast. He also met UN peacekeeping mission chief Aroldo Lazaro and the heads of an international committee with the responsibility of monitoring any breaking of a ceasefire. “Things are moving forward, the dynamic is positive” on the implementation of the ceasefire, he said.

The election of Mr Aoun and his designation of Nawaf Salam, the former president of the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister, has brought hope of positive change in Lebanon – something Mr Macron alluded to.

“Since January 9, in the middle of winter, spring has sprung,” Mr Macron said. “You are this hope,” he said, referring to Mr Aoun and Mr Salem.

The French President's first meeting was at the airport with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. French officials have sought to describe Mr Macron's visit as a support for Lebanon's new leaders moving forward.

Mr Macron is also expected to meet Mr Guterres in the Lebanese capital ahead of the January 26 ceasefire deadline.

“A window has opened for a new era of institutional stability with a state fully able to protect its citizens and a system that would allow the tremendous potential of the Lebanese people to flourish,” Mr Guterres said. “We will do everything to help keep that window open wide.”