Report: Macron and US warn Lebanon against involvement in war

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent phone talks with President Joseph Aoun were part of “intensive phone diplomacy with Baabda aimed at sparing Lebanon the flames that Tel Aviv has ignited,” a media report said on Tuesday.

The diplomatic contacts also aimed to “deliver direct messages to Hezbollah not to carry out any military action, although Hezbollah asserted from day one, during a coordinative meeting with the Lebanese Army, that its mission is to defend Lebanon, not to mention that Iran does not need anyone,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

“Lebanon has received a flurry of advices related to the possibility that war might protract, with Aoun relaying the messages to Hezbollah through Army chief Rodolphe Haykal, most importantly the one that came from the U.S. on the need to stay neutral in order not to pay a hefty price,” the daily added.

France meanwhile warned that “Lebanon’s involvement in this war will lead to a major Israeli reaction and that no one can offer guarantees to prevent that,” al-Akhbar said.

Hezbollah for its part reiterated that “it is not currently concerned and that Iran does not want any help, seeing as it is capable of defending itself, has regained its confidence after the opening strike, and is daily deterring the enemy,” the daily added.

Al-Akhbar also reported that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is expected to begin talks in Lebanon on Thursday, noting that his visit had been scheduled prior to the current escalation in the region.