French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into the broader regional conflict and demanded the group disarm, while simultaneously warning Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty and abandon plans for a ground invasion.
French President Emmanuel Macron has issued stark dual warnings to both Hezbollah and Israel as the unprecedented March 2026 regional war—triggered by the U.S.-Israeli Operation "Epic Wrath" against Iran—continues to engulf the Middle East.
According to قناة الجزيرة (Al Jazeera), a Qatari state-funded network that extensively covers Arab perspectives, Macron stated that Hezbollah "committed a fatal mistake" by pulling Lebanon into a direct confrontation with Israel. He demanded that the Lebanese militant group halt its strikes immediately. This statement was closely mirrored by واحد عراق (ONEIQ1), an Iraqi news channel that typically reflects regional Arab developments, which also quoted Macron emphasizing the severity of the group's actions.
Furthermore, ONEIQ1 reported that Macron called on Hezbollah not only to cease its cross-border attacks but also to "hand over its weapons". These demands for disarmament come as Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" militias have launched widespread retaliatory strikes across the region following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Addressing the Israeli government, Macron stressed the urgent need for de-escalation on the northern front. According to Al Jazeera, the French President declared that Israel must "abandon any ground attack in Lebanon." ONEIQ1 additionally highlighted Macron's firm insistence that Israel must "respect Lebanon's sovereignty and show restraint" to prevent the conflict from further devastating the Lebanese state.
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