French Foreign Minister Arrives In Lebanon Amid Israeli Air Strikes

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Lebanon Sunday night, his ministry said, making him the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit since Israeli air strikes intensified one week ago.

The arrival of Barrot, who earlier called for an immediate halt to the strikes, came as the foreign ministry announced that a second French national had been killed in Lebanon, though details were unclear.

Barrot oversaw the delivery of 11.5 tonnes of French humanitarian aid, Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said.

After a meeting about the status of French nationals, Barrot on Monday will meet officials including Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

He is also due to meet the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and members of the UN peacekeeping force in the south.

“We confirm the death of a second French national,” his ministry said Sunday, adding that further details will be supplied later.

The death comes after an 87-year-old French woman died last Monday after a blast in a village in south Lebanon.

Israel’s military on Sunday said it struck more targets of Lebanon’s Iran-backed group Hezbollah after its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a Beirut air raid on Friday. 

The violence has raised strong fears of even further escalation in the Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also appointed a former foreign and defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, as special envoy to Lebanon.

Le Drian has visited the country six times, most recently at the beginning of the week.