Lebanon situation deteriorates; France urges UN Security Council emergency meeting

Moscow — France has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following the escalation of the situation in Lebanon, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Monday, 9 March.

“Because the situation in Lebanon is deteriorating rapidly, France has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council,” said the French foreign minister via the X platform.

France has allocated emergency assistance of €6 million, equivalent to approximately $6.9 million (around 117 billion rupiah), for various humanitarian organisations in Lebanon.

The French government has also opened a support fund for the foreign ministry’s crisis centre and is preparing to send humanitarian assistance to Lebanon weighing up to 20 tonnes, added Barrot.

Furthermore, Paris continues to hold talks with Israel and Lebanon aimed at preventing the countries from descending into chaos, securing a ceasefire, and promoting the disarmament process of the Hezbollah group, said the foreign minister.

On 2 March, several rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel, with the Hezbollah group claiming responsibility for the attack.

In response, the Israeli military launched large-scale strikes against numerous residential areas across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut.

Hundreds of thousands of residents subsequently began leaving their homes and seeking shelter in safer areas of Lebanon.