Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Monday said during his meeting at Baabda Palace, with French Justice Minister G©rald Darmanin, attended by Lebanon's Justice Minister Adel Nassar, that "Israel's repeated attacks, the killing of innocent civilians, children and women, the destruction and burning of homes and the bulldozing of property are condemned, rejected and unjustified crimes. These attacks target the framework agreement process and undermine all efforts to halt the escalation in southern Lebanon and the region as a whole."

According to National news agency - Lebanon, President Aoun stressed that "Lebanon supports renewing the mandate of the international force in the south, and we are working with President Macron to facilitate the renewal," welcoming "the French-Italian initiative to establish a European force to fill the vacuum following UNIFIL's withdrawal."

Aoun added: "My visit to Paris next week is to participate alongside President Macron in the opening of the preparatory meeting for the international conference in support of the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces, and to discuss the issue of the international force in the south."

French Justice Minister G©rald Darmanin, in turn, praised the reforms achieved so far, particularly the abolition of the death penalty, saying: "Lebanon can always count on France. We will continue to cooperate with the Lebanese Ministry of Justice and supporting Lebanon in the courageous reform path it has chosen, especially since implementing this path is a fundamental condition for achieving Lebanon's independence and sovereignty."