PARIS/NICOSIA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged de-escalation amid rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
During a visit to Cyprus, where he met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron expressed solidarity with the island country.
He said that the defense of Cyprus is "obviously a crucial issue" not only for the country itself but also for neighbors and the European Union.
Cyprus and France have established a strategic partnership. In the wake of recent drone and missile attacks targeting British military bases on Cyprus, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its carrier strike group were deployed to waters near Cyprus, accompanied by the frigate Languedoc and a Mistral air defense unit.
Macron said that the French Navy deployment was for "a purely defensive and escort mission," aimed at protecting container ships and tankers and helping to "gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz" after the most intense phase of the conflict.
The "purely defensive, purely support mission" would be organized by European and non-European states, he said.
Regarding the current Mideast situation, he voiced support for the countries in the region directly affected by the conflict between the U.S.-Israeli joint force and Iran, some of which have been targeted by Iran's retaliatory action. Stressing his concerns for Lebanon, he described the situation there as "very worrying."
He said Hezbollah must cease strikes from Lebanese territory, while Israel should halt its military operations and strikes on Lebanon as soon as possible to allow the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be restored.
According to the French presidency, Macron also spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Monday about the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon. No further details of their conversation were released.
France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris is continuing discussions with Lebanese and Israeli authorities to help secure a ceasefire and prevent further escalation.
Commenting on the appointment of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Macron said "profound" changes to Iranian leadership could not occur "through American-Israeli bombings alone," warning that the war triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran could continue for "several days, perhaps several weeks." ■
