French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Sunday said that he had called for an “emergency meeting” of the United Nations Security Council over Israel’s ongoing military operation in Lebanon.
In an interview with French outlet BFMTV, Barrot stated that “Nothing can justify the prolongation of (Israel’s) military operations in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation of Lebanese territory.”
“This is a major mistake for Israel,” he added.
Barrot’s statements come as the IDF confirmed it had taken control of Beaufort Castle in Lebanon, a position it had not held since withdrawing in May 2000.
Beaufort was originally a French Crusader-period castle in the region.
In the same interview, Barrot also called for Iran and the US to reach a peace deal, describing the current situation as “untenable.”
“We feel the consequences of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on a daily basis, at the pump, and more generally with its impact on the global economy and on the French economy. So this has to stop,” he stated.
He also said that “the planning work is advanced” regarding the mission to guarantee freedom of movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
