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French President Emmanuel Macron is demanding that Israel halt its strikes on Lebanon and that the US-Iran ceasefire be expanded to include Lebanese territory.

Getting into it: In a statement released on Wednesday, Macron condemned Israel’s latest wave of attacks as “indiscriminate,” saying the strikes had resulted in widespread civilian harm and were putting the already fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran at serious risk. He said he personally spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to express France’s “full solidarity,” adding that Lebanon should be included within the scope of the ceasefire moving forward. Macron argued that leaving Lebanon out would weaken the overall deal and make it harder to sustain over time, and he reiterated calls for de-escalation across all fronts, including Israel’s operations against Hezbollah.

The Israeli military’s latest offensive involved more than 100 strikes across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon within minutes, marking one of the largest bombardments since the current conflict began. The attacks hit densely populated urban areas, contributing to significant civilian casualties, with hundreds reported killed and many more injured, according to Lebanese authorities. Entire neighborhoods were damaged, and the strikes intensified an already severe humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and infrastructure destruction.

While Lebanon has long supported efforts to curb the power of Hezbollah, authorities have made clear they reject Israel’s military approach, warning that continued attacks undermine Lebanese sovereignty and could further destabilize the country. Officials have also stressed that any resolution must come through political processes rather than large-scale military action.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the strikes as necessary responses to attacks by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon. Israeli officials argue that Hezbollah’s involvement in cross-border attacks justifies continued military operations and maintain that their campaign is aimed at dismantling the group’s capabilities. Israel has also rejected the notion that Lebanon is included in the US-Iran ceasefire, insisting its operations there remain separate.

Pakistan, which helped broker the deal, has said Lebanon should be included, while both Israel and the United States dispute that interpretation.