France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed ​Forces and provide armored transport vehicles as well ‌as operational and logistical support, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, as Lebanon was pulled deeper into the [war in ​the Middle East](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-launches-wave-missiles-israel-us-republicans-block-measure-halt-us-air-2026-03-05/) earlier this week.

"Everything must be ​done to prevent this country, so close to ⁠France, from once again being drawn into war," Macron ​said in a post on X.

"At this moment of ​great danger, I call on the Israeli prime minister not to expand the war to Lebanon. I call on Iranian leaders not ​to further draw Lebanon into a war that ​is not its own," the French leader added.

After meeting with the ‌chief ⁠of staff of the French military in Beirut, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun asked Macron to intervene to "prevent the targeting of the southern suburbs following threats by the Israeli ​army against ​its residents," the ⁠Lebanese presidency said in a separate statement.

France has said that it aims to ​prevent escalation across the region and has [taken steps](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-is-ready-help-gulf-countries-targeted-by-iran-2026-03-02/) ​to ⁠protect its own positions amid the wider conflict involving the United States, Israel and [Iran](https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/).

"Hezbollah must immediately cease its fire ⁠toward ​Israel. Israel must refrain from ​any ground intervention or large-scale operation on Lebanese territory," Macron said.

##See also:

* [French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from a ground offensive in Lebanon. Macron also said he spoke with Lebanese leaders, stressing the need for Hezbollah to cease its attacks.](https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/05/macron-asks-netanyahu-to-refrain-from-a-ground-offensive-in-lebanon) (Euronews)
* [Macron says 'everything' must be done to prevent new war in Lebanon • The French president said that Lebanese authorities had given him 'their commitment' to take control of Hezbollah positions, as France dispatches humanitarian aid.](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/05/macron-everything-must-be-done-to-prevent-lebanon-from-being-drawn-into-war_6751134_4.html) (Le Monde)

France ramps up military aid to Lebanon as Macron calls on Hezbollah, Israel to halt attacks