FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiFrance said today it is sending additional military assets to the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat and called a UN Security Council meeting later in the day after Iran fired about 200 missiles at Israel.
Tehran announced earlier today that its missile attack on Israel had ended unless there were further provocations, with Israel and the US vowing to retaliate for its attack as fears of a wider war grew in the region.
"Committed to Israel's security, France today mobilized its army in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat," the French presidency said in a statement released overnight after an emergency meeting of the French cabinet to discuss regional escalation.
"The head of state also reiterated France's request that Hezbollah stop its terrorist actions against Israel and its population," he added.
In this announcement, the French presidency did not provide more information on the type of additional military assets sent to the region, and the French Ministry of Defense has not been available to comment so far.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro had a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken to coordinate diplomatic efforts, the French Foreign Ministry said at the same time.
Paris and Washington tried to broker a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon just hours before Israel launched airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed the leader of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite movement close to Iran, Saget Hassan Nasrallah.
The French Foreign Ministry noted that it has called a meeting of the UN Security Council this afternoon to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
The French presidency added in its statement that it will also soon organize a conference in support of Lebanon and asked the French foreign minister to go to the region to make diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
"With an emphasis on the security and protection of our compatriots in Lebanon and the Middle East, the head of state asked that all necessary measures be taken to help them and, if necessary, to rush to their aid" , the French presidency added.
A warship with a helicopter sailed yesterday, Monday, from France to the maritime zone of Lebanon, where it will take a "preliminary" position in case an order is given for the departure of French citizens.
Lini një Përgjigje