BEIRUT: The UN Security Council Resolution 1701 on Lebanon must be implemented by both sides, France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said in Beirut on Monday.
The resolution, which was passed at the end of the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, states that no armed factions should be present between Lebanon’s Litani River and its border with Israel.
Her remarks came as Israeli hostilities on the Lebanese southern front significantly escalated on Monday.
An Israeli drone fired a guided missile at a building just 40 meters away from the funeral of Hezbollah member Hassan Maan Srour in the border village of Aita Al-Shaab.
The missile caused damage to the building, but no casualties were reported.
Mourners came together after being separated for a while following the incident and continued the funeral, chanting slogans against Israel.
Aita Al-Shaab was subjected to additional Israeli strikes later, with no casualties reported.
The Israeli army bombed Al-Mary Valley using 155 mm artillery shells, injuring a farmer and damaging the machine he was working on in his field.
Sirens sounded in Shlomi and Matzuva in western Galilee and Yiftah in the Galilee Panhandle.
Israeli media stated that around eight missiles were fired from Lebanon toward western Galilee and that the infiltration of a drone from southern Lebanon is suspected.
The French minister’s arrival in Beirut from Tel Aviv coincided with the escalation of the confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
Her talks aim to prevent a deterioration in the situation on the border between Lebanon and Israel amid international warnings that hostilities in southern Lebanon could turn into full-scale war.
Colonna’s visit includes meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun.
During her meeting with Berri, it was reported that Colonna reiterated her country’s stance, which calls for “sparing the region of any conflict.”
Colonna commended the Lebanese parliament’s decision last week to extend Gen. Aoun’s term, as well as those of security officials, namely generals and major generals, for one year.
The term of Maj. Gen. Imad Othman — director-general of internal security forces — has also been extended.
According to the defense law, the army chief’s mandate ends upon reaching the retirement age of 60 on Jan. 10, 2024.
The discussions between Berri and Colonna touched on “the possibility of addressing other political issues, starting with the presidency.”
Colonna had called from Tel Aviv for an “immediate and sustainable” ceasefire in Gaza and a de-escalation with Lebanon.
During her visit to a military base near Tel Aviv, she expressed concern about possible escalation and called for caution, emphasizing that it would not benefit anyone, including Israel, if things spiraled out of control.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said after his talks with Colonna on Sunday that France could play a positive and important role in preventing a war in Lebanon.
Cohen stressed that Israel “has no intention of opening another front on our northern border, but we will do everything necessary to protect our citizens.”
He pointed out: “More than 50,000 Israelis were displaced from the border areas in northern Israel, and we must ensure their security so that they can return.
“The only way to do this is to force Hezbollah to withdraw to the north of the Litani River. There are two ways to do that: through diplomacy or by force.”
The outskirts of the town of Aitaroun were subjected to intermittent Israeli artillery shelling from Israeli army positions on the opposite side of the border.
Israel also bombed the villages of Al-Dahaira and Alma Al-Shaab.
Artillery shells targeted homes in the town of Al-Jabayn, the Labbouneh area, the outskirts of Naqoura, the Ruwaisat area, the northern outskirts of Mays Al-Jabal, and the outskirts of Hula and Wadi Al-Jamal.
On Monday morning, Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the vicinity of the Hamra site.
