Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his government is not seeking a violent confrontation with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Salam arrived in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to strengthen Lebanon’s diplomatic position ahead of possible future negotiations with Israel. As the Middle East grapples with the broader U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran, Beirut is turning to France for support.
The diplomatic timetable is accelerating. The U.S. is set to host ambassador-level talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington on Thursday. It remains unclear whether the aim is to extend a fragile 10-day ceasefire or to begin more substantive negotiations over territorial sovereignty.
Speaking alongside Macron, Salam outlined the delicate position facing his government. "We are continuing along this path, convinced that diplomacy is not a sign of weakness, but a responsible act to leave no avenue unexplored in restoring my country's sovereignty and protecting its people," he said.
On the ground, conditions remain challenging. Israeli forces occupy parts of southern Lebanon, seeking to create a buffer zone against Hezbollah rocket fire. Hezbollah, meanwhile, maintains what it calls the "right to resist" Israeli presence and has refused to withdraw.
In 2025, under international pressure, Lebanon said it would disarm Hezbollah. However, the Lebanese Armed Forces have proceeded cautiously amid fears of triggering sectarian conflict. The U.S. and Israel have criticised Beirut for what they see as insufficient action.
"We are not seeking confrontation with Hezbollah," Salam said when asked about disarmament. "On the contrary, I wanted to avoid confrontation with Hezbollah, but believe me, we will not be intimidated by Hezbollah."
He also highlighted the domestic impact of the conflict, saying Lebanon urgently needs €500 million ($587 million) over the next six months to address a humanitarian crisis that has displaced 1.2 million people from the south, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
France, which has longstanding ties with Lebanon, has sought to mediate alongside Washington. It helped broker a ceasefire in 2024 and establish a monitoring mechanism.
However, relations between Paris and Tel Aviv have deteriorated. Tensions stem from France’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, as well as its contacts with Hezbollah’s political wing.
The divide has become more visible. Israel’s ambassador to Washington said last week that France should be excluded from future peace talks, calling its influence unhelpful. While the U.S. remains in contact with France, it has moved to limit Paris’s role.
This concerns European and Lebanese officials, who fear Lebanon could face pressure in direct talks without adequate backing. Demands such as full disarmament in the south without Israeli withdrawal could heighten domestic tensions, particularly given Hezbollah’s refusal to negotiate directly with Israel.
"We are trying our best to get them [France] back in the discussions, but the U.S. and Israel are adamant not to include them," a senior Lebanese diplomat said, speaking anonymously.
Despite setbacks, France continues to back Lebanon. Macron said ending the war and ensuring stability were immediate priorities and pledged support in preparing for negotiations. "France does not need to be at any negotiating table, wherever it may be, in order to stand by Lebanon," he said.
Salam stressed that negotiations would be demanding and that Lebanon would need "active" international support to secure a fair outcome.
France also points to its presence on the ground, including around 700 troops serving with the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL). Officials say any future agreement would require significant international oversight. The risks were underscored this week when a French soldier was killed in southern Lebanon in an attack France blamed on Hezbollah.
Ceasefire remains fragile
Signs of instability persist. Israeli forces have continued demolitions of homes in areas they control along the southern border. At the same time, the Israeli military said Hezbollah fired rockets at its positions in the area on Tuesday afternoon. Hezbollah has not commented on the incident.
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