ISTANBUL

France on Monday voiced “deep concern” after an Israeli strike hit Beirut a day earlier, warning that the attack risks further escalation at a time of already heightened regional tensions.

Five people were killed and 25 others injured in the Israeli strike that targeted Beirut’s southern suburb on Sunday.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry called on “all parties to exercise restraint,” stressing that any further deterioration would endanger civilian populations on both sides of the border.

Paris urged all actors to fully use the Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism to report threats and prevent unilateral actions.

The mechanism, recognized by all parties, is part of the Nov. 27, 2024, cessation of hostilities agreement aimed at stabilizing the Lebanon-Israel frontier.

France said the framework is “essential to guarantee the safety of civilian populations in both Lebanon and Israel.”

Reaffirming its long-standing position, France underscored its commitment to Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” and reiterated the need to avoid any steps that could undermine the fragile ceasefire.