There has recently been an increase in discussions between French officials and Lebanese authorities aimed to mitigate tensions between Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant group, and Israel. France’s historical ties with Lebanon have positioned it as a key mediator in the region. Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné proposed a pullback of Hezbollah’s elite unit by 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, as well as the cessation of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. These proposals, discussed with various partners including the United States, signify concentrated efforts to de-escalate the currently volatile situation.

In response to these elevated tensions, the French and U.S. have developed separate plans for resolving the current crisis, both of which seek to partially implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted after the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war but was never properly enforced. This resolution called for a ceasefire in the form of withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces and U.N. peacekeepers in the region. It also prohibited unauthorized presence of armed personnel and weapons in southern Lebanon, as well as the enforced definition of the demarcation line marking the border between Lebanon and Israel. Additionally, France has sent its foreign minister, defense minister, and other high-level officials to Israel and Lebanon repeatedly since Hezbollah-Israel hostilities erupted last October. French and U.S. officials have increased in their contacts as well, signifying that there will be an international coalition to stop a potential war on the horizon. However, while France’s resolution mainly focused on security issues, the U.S. resolution dives into economic incentives. Historically, the two allies have not had the best cooperation in Lebanon. In the 1940s, Paris was pressured by the U.S. to give Lebanon independence as a result of the aftermath of World War II. At that time, France held influence over Lebanon as a colonial power since the end of World War I even though the Lebanese people sought independence. However, that is not to say that successful collaboration between the two parties is impossible. The 2005 Syrian withdrawal is credited by the close French and American cooperation. Following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005, there was widespread international condemnation of Syria for the attack. As a result, Syria faced increasing diplomatic isolation and calls for the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon. Both France and the United States were very vocal in demanding immediate withdrawal and supporting the Lebanese sovereignty. Alongside member countries of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the European Union, French and American diplomats were able to apply pressure on Syria, creating direct resolutions that compelled Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.

This recent conflict between Lebanon and Israel stems from an incident on October 8th 2023, when Hezbollah fired guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli positions in the Shebaa Farms during the chaos of the Israel-Hamas war. Hezbollah controls southern Lebanon and is driven by the goal of eliminating the state of Israel and speaking against the Israeli government and their policies. In its 1985 manifesto, Hezbollah declared “our struggle will end only when this entity [Israel] is obliterated. We recognize no treaty with it, no ceasefire, and no peace agreements.” This militant group possesses more than 150,000 rockets and is considered the most fully armed non-state faction in the world. Hezbollah has openly supported and praised the Hamas attack on Israel, further escalating the tension between the two opposing factions. In response to the attack on October 8th, Israel retaliated with drone strikes and artillery shells near Lebanon’s boundary with the Golan Heights. The current consequence of this conflict has already impacted citizens of both factions, leaving more than 96,000 individuals in Israel and 100,000 individuals in Lebanon displaced. The U.N.I.F.I.L. mission, a U.N. peacekeeping mission established in March 1978, is composed of 10,000 peacekeepers from 46 nations and currently stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel. However, the severity of strikes between Hezbollah and Israel has only continued to escalate.

While initiating peacekeeping conversations between factions are important to resolving the problem at hand, the grievances between Hezbollah and Israel demand a holistic approach to addressing the Gaza-Israel conflict. It is important to note that Hezbollah paused its attacks on Israel when Hamas and Israel temporarily ceased fire to allow the release of prisoners and hostages in November. Additionally, Hezbollah has continuously broadcasted campaigns in support of Palestinians in the Gaza-Israel conflict, as the Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated that the group’s attacks will only end when Israel’s “aggression” towards Gaza ends. Looking ahead, there is an increasing need for international support to hold diplomatic conversations with Lebanese and Israeli officials, which hold significant implications for regional peace and security. France, with its influential geopolitical position, plays a key role in mobilizing international support. The United States, as a major global power, should also provide diplomatic support and join forces with France and other international factions to recreate the diplomatic successes seen during the 2005 Syrian withdrawal. Ultimately, a successful resolution could avert the outbreak of an all-out war, but the root cause of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel lies in the Gaza-Israel conflict. Only by adopting a hands-on approach and ensuring that all of the international community are dedicated to stabilizing and supporting this humanitarian crisis, can we ensure to ease Hezbollah-Israel tensions and avoid further violence.