France Urges Pressure on Israel Over Lebanon Truce, U.S. Envoy Pushes Back

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot sharply criticized Israel’s strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday, saying Israel must respect its obligations under the ceasefire agreement and halt fighting on all fronts. He also called on the United States to apply all necessary pressure to secure the agreement’s full implementation.

Barrot said the immediate priority is to carry out the final steps of the deal, including measures tied to regional stability and security guarantees. He warned that without the agreement being reached and enforced, “the whole region risks prolonged instability.” He also said the deal is needed to prevent further escalation and avoid negative economic consequences linked to energy routes in the region.

France, he said, will remain involved in diplomatic efforts and will work with international partners as implementation advances. The comments came as Israel has carried out strikes in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah violations in the area.

In response, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused Barrot of taking Hezbollah’s side. In a social media post, he wrote, “Did France get all its information from Hezbollah? Four Israeli soldiers were killed tonight. Israel strikes when it is attacked. A ceasefire will happen when Hezbollah stops firing and killing.”