French Foreign Minister Visits Beirut to Aid in Easing Tensions

French Foreign Minister embarks on a diplomatic visit to Beirut, aiming to ease escalating tensions and foster stability in the region.

On Thursday, Stéphane Séjourné, the Foreign Minister of France made a brief visit to Beirut in an effort by Western nations to facilitate peace within the Middle East.

A day prior to his visit, Lebanon was also visited by Amos Hochstein- a senior advisor from the US.

A fresh set of discussions was scheduled for international mediators in their efforts to cease the Israel-Hamas conflict and ensure that numerous hostages are freed. The probability of an agreement being reached is viewed as the most effective means of preventing a much bigger regional turmoil.

Diplomats are hopeful that it could prevent Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah from retaliating due to the recent killing of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, as well as Hamas’ chief political leader who died in an explosion that occurred in Tehran.

Since October 8, both Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in strikes. This date marks the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack into southern Israel which sparked an ongoing war between them and Israel in Gaza.

Despite the ongoing military buildup and rising tensions, Iran and Hezbollah emphasize that they are not seeking an all-out war. The recent escalation of threats could be defused if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, providing a way out for both sides.