France announces “mobilization of its military capabilities in the Middle East”

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The Elysee Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron "condemned in the strongest terms the new attacks launched by Iran on Israel," noting that Paris "mobilized its military capabilities in the Middle East, Tuesday, to confront the Iranian threat." The French Presidency said in a statement issued at dawn on Wednesday at the conclusion of a meeting of the Defense Council, that Macron called on "Hezbollah to stop its terrorist acts against Israel and its residents," recalling that France "is committed to Israel's security." In return, the French President asked the Israeli authorities "to put an end to their military operations" in Lebanon as soon as possible. Macron also called on "all parties concerned with the crisis in the Middle East to show the greatest restraint." The French presidency noted that Paris "will organize a conference very soon to support the Lebanese people and their institutions." According to the statement, Macron asked Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to "visit the Midd le East again", after he recently visited Beirut. The French presidency said that Barrot "will consult with all those who can play a role in initiating calm and finding lasting solutions to the current crisis in all its aspects, especially with regard to the situation in both Lebanon and Gaza. Source: National Iraqi News Agency