France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said “nothing justifies the major escalation in south Lebanon” after Israeli military expanded its ground incursion into Lebanon.
Macron’s remarks came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a recorded speech that Israeli forces had taken control of the strategic Beaufort Castle, known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif, in southern Lebanon, in the deepest incursion in more than two decades.
In a message on X after speaking with regional leaders, Macron said it was "essential" for an agreement to be reached quickly between the United States and Iran.
Macron held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
At France's request, the U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday after the Israeli army, which is expanding its operations in Lebanon, seized the medieval Beaufort castle in the country's south.
