Macron to Meet Lebanon's PM and Army Chief in Paris Amid Middle East Crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati and army chief Joseph Aoun in Paris on Friday to discuss stabilizing Lebanon amid recent Hezbollah-Israel clashes and the broader Middle East crisis. Lebanon is grappling with a deep economic and political crisis, compounded by cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Macron has visited Lebanon twice in recent years to help the country address its crises, but has now assigned the task to former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The meeting comes as fears have increased of a regional escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and after Iran launched its first direct military attack on Israel. "The meeting with Mikati and Aoun will seek to 'clarify a roadmap' on stabilizing Lebanon," Macron stated.

Lebanon has been without a president for over a year, and Mikati leads a caretaker government with limited powers. Joseph Aoun, the army chief, is sometimes seen as a potential leader who could help break the political deadlock in the country. The European Council has decided to increase its support for the Lebanese armed forces and provide aid to help Lebanon deal with the economic challenges and the influx of Syrian refugees.

Why this matters: The stability of Lebanon is crucial for the broader Middle East region, especially amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The meeting in Paris underscores the international community's efforts to prevent further destabilization and support Lebanon's fragile political and economic situation.

The talks come as tensions remain high between Israel and its arch-enemy Iran, with Israel launching deadly strikes on besieged Gaza in response to a weekend attack. Weeks of negotiations towards an Israel-Hamas truce and hostage release deal have stalled, according to Qatar's prime minister, who said the Gulf emirate is now 'reassessing our role as mediator'. The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear how Iran may respond to the reported Israeli strikes.

Key Takeaways

• Macron to meet Lebanon's PM, army chief to discuss stabilizing Lebanon amid crises.
• Lebanon faces deep economic, political crisis, compounded by Hezbollah-Israel clashes.
• Fears of regional escalation in Israel-Hamas conflict, as Iran launches attack on Israel.
• Lebanon without president for over a year, caretaker govt with limited powers.
• EU to increase support for Lebanese armed forces, aid to address economic challenges.