Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for a cease-fire as violence between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. Mikati, in a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on Monday, reiterated the need to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon, calling for a revival of an appeal for a cease-fire by the United States and France.
Mikati said this as Barrot arrived in Beirut-the first visit by a foreign diplomat since Israel stepped up its strikes on Hezbollah positions. The prime minister stressed that the United Nations Security Council Resolution, 1701-which brought an end to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah-needed to be immediately realized.
A visit by the French envoy came on the heels of reports about a lethal strike against a building in central Beirut that underlined the continuing violence in the region. These airstrikes by Israel have largely hit southern and eastern Lebanon-Hezbollah strongholds and parts of southern Beirut, a fact that raises growing concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
