Macron’s Envoy in Beirut on Wednesday to Revive French Initiative

The destroyed Beirut port is seen on October 26, 2020. (AFP)
The destroyed Beirut port is seen on October 26, 2020. (AFP)
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Macron’s Envoy in Beirut on Wednesday to Revive French Initiative

The destroyed Beirut port is seen on October 26, 2020. (AFP)
The destroyed Beirut port is seen on October 26, 2020. (AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron’s envoy, Pierre Duquesne, is expected to arrive in Beirut on Wednesday to follow up on the government formation process.

He is set to meet with various Lebanese officials, who have for months been unable to form a new cabinet despite the country dealing with its worst economic crisis in decades.

Lebanese political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the envoy will meet with officials on Thursday and Friday.

Duquesne’s visit is seen as the latest French effort to achieve a breakthrough in the government formation process as Macron’s initiative over the summer to rescue the country from complete collapse failed to take off.

Veteran politician Saad Hariri has been named to form the government. Efforts have stumbled last week at disputes over the distribution of portfolios along sectarian lines.

The process got even more complicated with the United States on Friday slapping sanctions on Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil over corruption.



Israeli Tank Fires on UNIFIL Base in Lebanon’s Naqoura

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
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Israeli Tank Fires on UNIFIL Base in Lebanon’s Naqoura

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)

The UN peacekeeping force said Friday that an Israeli tank fired on its headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, hitting an observation tower and wounding two peacekeepers, who were hospitalized.

Israeli forces had fired on positions used by the UN peacekeepers on Wednesday and Thursday, the UN force said.

The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured in one of the incidents.

The Israeli military acknowledged opening fire at a UN base in southern Lebanon on Thursday and said it had ordered the peacekeepers to “remain in protected spaces.”

Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, which began firing rockets at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023.

Israel recently escalated bombardment in Lebanon and invaded a strip inside the Lebanese border, vowing to push out Hezbollah fighters.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon on Thursday recommended "UNIFIL relocate 5 km (3 miles) north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies.”