Israel – Lebanon - Hezbollah tunnels (12 December 2018)
France expresses its concern following the discovery by the Israeli armed forces of tunnels on Israeli territory dug from Lebanon by Hezbollah. These tunnels constitute a violation of UNSCR 1701 which provides for the cessation of hostilities along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.
France expressed its concern to the Lebanese authorities and will continue to engage in close dialogue with them on the situation in southern Lebanon. It calls on all parties to exercise caution and restraint.
France reaffirms its attachment to the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 in a sharply deteriorating regional context. It would like the recent developments to be promptly discussed at the UN Security Council. It reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to which it contributes almost 700 troops. In this respect, it pays tribute to the force’s responsiveness following these revelations and the implementation of follow-up measures, in strict compliance with its mandate. It calls on the Lebanese and Israeli authorities to continue their close collaboration with UNIFIL and urges them to continue their dialogue within the framework of the UNIFIL tripartite meetings, which play a key role in preventing any escalation on the ground.