Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron consider a ceasefire in Lebanon

DIPLOMACY – Think about a way out. American President Joe Biden spoke this Friday, November 22 with Emmanuel Macron on the situation in the Middle East. The two heads of state discussed efforts towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the White House announced.

“They took stock of developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, including efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which will allow residents on both sides of the Line blue to return home safely”according to a press release.

The two leaders “committed to remaining in close consultation, directly and through their national security teams”adds the text.

Of the ” progress »

The United States and France had already initiated a ceasefire proposal in Lebanon at the end of September, which was not followed through on. However, the two countries are stepping up efforts to establish a ceasefire in Lebanon, where the Israeli army is fighting the pro-Iranian Islamist movement Hezbollah.

The American president’s special envoy, Amos Hochstein, traveled this week to Lebanon and Israel to try to obtain a truce between the belligerents, citing “additional progress” in discussions.

The Israeli army launched a campaign of massive strikes in Lebanon on September 23 against Hezbollah, which had opened a front to support Hamas after October 7, 2023, followed by ground operations.

Israel says it wants to remove Hezbollah to allow the return of some 60,000 inhabitants of the north of the country displaced by the Islamist movement’s fire. Violence between Israel and Hezbollah has caused at least 3,558 deaths in Lebanon since October 2023. On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed in 13 months.