French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Iran to “avoid regional military escalation” in the wake of a deadly attack on a soccer field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has attributed the attack to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, although Hezbollah has denied involvement.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed that Hezbollah will “pay the price,” raising concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict. Macron reached out to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to express his deep concern over escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
Macron emphasized the importance of preventing a regional military escalation and called on Iran to cease its support for destabilizing actors and exercise restraint. The Élysée Palace has affirmed France's commitment to engaging with all parties involved to prevent a conflict with catastrophic consequences for the region.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has cautioned Israel about the risks of invading Lebanon, with Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib warning that such an action could trigger a broader regional war involving other actors like the Houthis and Iraqi militias.
