French Foreign Minister Baro urges Israel to halt attacks on Lebanon

French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Baro called on Israel to stop its military operations in southern Lebanon, asking the United States to pressure Tel Aviv and warning that continued escalation would undermine regional stability. Baro referenced a U.S.‑brokered ten‑day cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon that began on 17 April and was later extended, saying France remains engaged in diplomatic efforts to support Lebanon’s security and sovereignty.

Baro’s earlier remarks describing the Iranian people as “the biggest losers” in the regional conflict triggered a sharp rebuke from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baqaei, who labeled the comments “the height of hypocrisy” and accused Paris of selective criticism on human‑rights issues. The exchange highlights rising diplomatic tension between France and Iran amid ongoing negotiations between the United States and Tehran on a broader Middle‑East security framework.