PARIS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and provide them with armored transport vehicles as well as operational and logistical support, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.
In a post on social media platform X, Macron said he held talks with Lebanese authorities to establish a plan aimed at putting an end to the military operations currently conducted by Hezbollah and Israel on both sides of the border.
"Israel must renounce any ground intervention or large-scale operation on Lebanese territory," Macron said, urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to expand the war in Lebanon.
The French detachment within the United Nations Force in Lebanon is also continuing its mission in the south of the country, he added.
Earlier Thursday, the Lebanese presidency said on X that President Joseph Aoun had asked Macron to intervene to prevent the targeting of southern Beirut following threats issued by the Israeli army.
The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 102, with 638 others wounded, Lebanon's authorities said Thursday. ■
