Lebanon urges US and France to hold Israel accountable for truce violations

Lebanese officials have called on the United States and France to pressure Israel into respecting a ceasefire, following repeated Israeli military operations that Beirut considers flagrant breaches of the agreement. Two senior Lebanese political sources revealed the appeals to Reuters on Tuesday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally who negotiated Lebanon’s part of the deal, expressed alarm over the deteriorating ceasefire during discussions with White House and French officials late Monday.

The Lebanese leadership voiced frustration over Israel's continued violations and the lack of enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Despite these concerns, responses from Washington and Paris have been tepid. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot merely emphasized the importance of adherence to the ceasefire during a conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday. Neither the French presidency nor the foreign ministry has issued a substantive statement on the matter.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller downplayed the situation, asserting that the ceasefire “is holding” while acknowledging the likelihood of violations.

Beirut’s pleas underscore the growing urgency to address Israel's violations and the broader consequences of failing to uphold agreements meant to ensure regional stability.