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There have been concerns in the region that if the United States
attacks Iran, Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon
could join the war, worsening the situation.
“If, however, we witness a regional escalation, it would be
appropriate for groups supported by Iran to exercise the
greatest restraint in the whole region so as not to worsen a
situation,” Barrot said after holding talks with Lebanese
leaders. “That would profoundly destabilize the Near and Middle
East,” he warned.
He added that a military escalation in the region is a risk that
must be avoided at all cost, adding that it is neither in the
interest of the countries in the region, nor in the interests of
France.
The French official discussed the ongoing process to disarm
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group and a conference that is
scheduled to be held next month in France to support the
Lebanese army that has been expanding its presence in southern
Lebanon along the border with Israel after the 14-month
Israel-Hezbollah war.
Barrot said France is working in close coordination with the
United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, who will
co-organize the conference “with us to a targeted collective
contribution, built with the Lebanese authorities.”
Lebanon’s army has been badly affected by the country’s historic
economic meltdown that broke out in late 2019. The country’s
political class has done little since then to get the small
nation out of the crisis that is rooted in decades of corruption
and mismanagement.
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