French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrow strongly criticized this morning (Friday) the attacks by IDF forces in southern Lebanon, in response to violations by the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
The French minister declared that Israel must honor its "commitments under the ceasefire agreement," and stressed that fighting must cease on all fronts. He called on the US to exert all "necessary pressure" to ensure the full implementation of the agreement.
He said the priority now is to "ensure the full implementation of the final steps of the agreement," including steps related to "regional stability and security guarantees." He argued that without the agreement being reached and implemented, "the entire region risks prolonged instability.".
He added that the agreement was "necessary to prevent further escalation and to prevent negative economic consequences related to energy routes in the region." He said France would continue to be involved in diplomatic efforts and would act in coordination with its international partners as the implementation of the agreement progresses.
In response to the French Foreign Minister's remarks, the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, harshly criticized him in a post he published on social media and supported Israel: "The French Foreign Minister said that Israel should stop the attacks against Hezbollah. Does France get all its information from Hezbollah? Four Israeli soldiers were killed tonight. Israel attacks when it is attacked. A ceasefire will take place when Hezbollah stops shooting and killing.".
Earlier, Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, wrote that Israel is committed to maintaining the ceasefire but will not remain silent in the face of Hezbollah's attempts to harm it. "Israel remains committed to the ceasefire agreement reached with Lebanon and the US. If Hezbollah does not violate the agreement, the ceasefire will be maintained," Leiter wrote on the X network.
At the same time, he sent a strong message, making it clear that Israel will not allow its security interests on the ground to be harmed. "In any case, Israel reserves its right to respond to attacks against it and thwart threats against its territory, its citizens, and its soldiers.".
