France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Lebanon to “dissociate” itself from regional dynamics at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
“The regional landscape has evolved in the wake of recent conflicts, and all parties must draw the appropriate conclusions,” Mr Barrot said at a press conference in Beirut on Friday.
“The Lebanese are exhausted and want to rebuild their country on sound and peaceful foundations (...) they hope not to be dragged, as was the case with Gaza, into a conflict they did not choose,” he said.
The remarks come amid growing US and Israeli pressure on Lebanon to accelerate Hezbollah’s disarmament, and concerns that tensions between Washington and Tehran could spill over into Lebanon in the event of a broader regional escalation.
“Dissociation is a prerequisite for Lebanon’s security,” Mr Barrot said.
Hezbollah, once Iran’s most prized asset, is part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a network of pro-Iran groups opposed to US and Israeli influence in the Middle East.
In the wake of the heavy toll of the Gaza war on Hamas, the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the regional balance of power has shifted dramatically, resulting in a weakened Axis of Resistance.
The Lebanese group, long seen as one of the most powerful militias in the world, has been significantly weakened by 13 months of conflict with Israel, which ended in November 2024 with a ceasefire agreement that provides for the phased disarmament of the group.
However, Hezbollah has refused to disarm north of the Litani River, an area covered by the second phase of the Lebanese army’s disarmament plan, which is expected to be presented this month.
Hezbollah argues that the area is not covered by the ceasefire terms and has declined to engage in negotiations as long as Israel continues to violate the agreement.
Mr Barrot called on “actors” who “continue to reject the decisions taken by the legitimate authorities” to exercise restraint and responsibility.
“Their continued headlong course risks exposing the country to destruction and instability,” the minister said.
Mr Barrot's two-day visit to Lebanon comes ahead of the support conference for the Lebanese army in Paris next month.
The minister met with Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, before holding talks with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace.
On Saturday he will meet Lebanon's military commander, Gen Rodolphe Haykal.
Mr Barrot has already visited Damascus, Baghdad and Erbil on a Middle East tour prompted by clashes in Syria and heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
A more “delicate” phase
Mr Salam's government approved last summer an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, whose first phase has been recently completed, according to the Lebanese army.
The next phase extends from the Litani River, about 30km from the Israeli border, to the Awali River, about 50 to 60km from the Israel-Lebanon frontier.
“Phase two is more delicate, since it also extends beyond Unifil's area of operations, complicating enforcement in areas where no troops are deployed,” a French diplomatic source told The National, referring to the UN peacekeeping force deployed in south Lebanon.
But for the diplomatic source, the ceasefire terms are clear. “Hezbollah has been playing with words, as the ceasefire stipulates that all armed groups across Lebanon must surrender their weapons,” he said.
Since the deal was agreed, Israel has bombed Lebanon on a near-daily basis, destroyed infrastructure, killed hundreds of people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, including civilians, and continues to occupy five positions in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese and UN officials have warned that these amount to repeated violations of the ceasefire.
The talks will also address the financial reforms required ahead of a separate international conference on Lebanon’s reconstruction, which France has vowed to organise, without giving a date. The Paris conference to support the army and internal security forces is set for March 5.
“It has to start with disarmament, but without economic reforms, sovereignty cannot be achieved if a country remains dependent on others to fund its army,” the French diplomatic source added.
Avoiding confrontation
Israel says it is striking Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons depots and has accused the Lebanese government and the ill-equipped armed forces of dragging their feet in implementing the disarmament plan.
Gen Haykal was in Washington this week, where he held meetings with US officials to discuss updates on the army’s role in implementing the Hezbollah disarmament plan.
His trip was overshadowed by US senator Lindsey Graham − an ally of President Donald Trump − saying he no longer considered the Lebanese military a “reliable partner”. This came after Mr Haykal declined to describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.
Despite the remarks, Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah − a long-standing taboo − have been broadly praised by western diplomats and Unifil.
A Lebanese military source said the first phase was implemented smoothly because Hezbollah agreed to it. “There was no problem at all for us in the execution,” the source said.
The source added that the army’s efforts have only been constrained by Israel’s continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, as well as shortages of explosive materials and the area’s complex terrain.
Disarmament north of the Litani River and in remaining areas is expected to be more “sensitive”, the military source added, as the army is keen to avoid direct confrontation with Hezbollah, which remains popular among many Lebanese Shiites as a political force and provider of social services.
“We have said it more than once, including through the army commander: the foundation is civil peace,” the military source said.
