NEAR TEL AVIV (Reuters) – France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday he did not see an obvious end to the conflict in the Middle East in the short-term, but that France and its allies would continue to work towards trying to find a lasting solution.
“There is no obvious short-term way out of the ongoing regional escalation, which has in some ways been unfolding since October 7, 2023. But this must in no way serve as a pretext for inaction,” Barrot told reporters after meeting with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar in Tel Aviv.
Underscoring the realities of the situation, as the minister arrived for the news conference, the Israeli military warned that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel, triggering sirens and sending the minister, his staff and press into a bomb shelter.
Barrot was in Israel after traveling to Lebanon on Thursday as part of efforts to de-escalate the crisis, but also to push a ceasefire in Lebanon.
France has historical ties with Lebanon and – along with the United States – has sought to mediate in the conflict that exploded after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel.
Barrot said he had outlined Paris’ reservations about a possible Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon, but said the Lebanese army had to do everything possible to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah as demanded by the Lebanese government.
