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Macron: Lebanon-Israel Deal a Step Towards More Peace

French President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)
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Macron: Lebanon-Israel Deal a Step Towards More Peace

French President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said the “historic agreement” between Lebanon and Israel that unlocks offshore gas production was an “important step towards more peace” between the Mediterranean neighbors.

Although Lebanon and Israel have remained technically at war since Israel's creation in 1948, Lebanese President Michel Aoun approved the US-brokered maritime border deal on Thursday.

Macron congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati for their “efforts and their determination,” the Elysee Palace presidency said.

“This is undeniably an important step towards more peace for Israel, for Lebanon and all the countries and peoples of the region.”

Macron stressed that the maritime border agreement, which promotes the exploration and exploitation of gas resources off the coast of Lebanon and Israel “will also contribute to the prosperity of both countries,” in light of a serious economic crisis in Beirut.

He further pointed out that it represents a positive example for the region of what could be attained through a shared desire to reach a solution within the framework of negotiations held based on shared respect.

The presidency added that the three senior officials thanked Macron for his contribution to the conclusion of the deal.

US President Joe Biden has described the conclusion of the maritime demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel as a “historic breakthrough,” noting that it was the culmination of months of mediation conducted by the US administration.

He asserted that it is now critical that all parties uphold their commitments and work towards implementation.

Biden thanked the US diplomats who acted as mediators between the two sides and hailed French President Emmanuel Macron and his government for their support in these negotiations.

Macron, for his part, hailed the US mediation and assured that France “will assume its full role, confidently, with its partners” to ensure the implementation of the agreement.

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FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
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FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison

Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions in the country that have fought US forces and fired rockets and drones at Israel to lay down their weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.

The push comes with a backdrop of seismic shifts in the Middle East that have seen Iran's armed allies in Gaza and Lebanon heavily degraded and Syria's government overthrown.

The incoming US Trump administration promises to pile more pressure on Tehran, which has long backed a number of political parties and an array of armed factions in Iraq.

Some Baghdad officials are concerned the status quo there may be upended next, but Hussein played this down in an interview with Reuters during an official visit to London.

"We don't think that Iraq is the next," Hussein said.

The government was in talks to rein in the groups while continuing to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran, he said.
"Two or three years ago it was impossible to discuss this topic in our society," he said.

But now, having armed groups functioning outside the state was not acceptable.

"Many political leaders, many political parties started to raise a discussion, and I hope that we can convince the leaders of these groups to lay down their arms, and then to be part of the armed forces under the responsibility of the government," Hussein said.

Iraq's balancing act has been tested by Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups' attacks on Israel and on US troops in the country they say are in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

A promised Gaza ceasefire has the government breathing a sigh of relief, though uncertainty prevails over how the country may fare after Donald Trump becomes US president.

During the last Trump presidency, relations grew tense as he ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020, leading to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on an Iraqi base housing US forces.

"We hope that we can continue this good relationship with Washington," Hussein said. "It is too early now to talk about which policy President Trump is going to follow for Iraq or Iran."

Iraq will only be reassured about Syria when it sees an inclusive political process, Hussein said, adding Baghdad would supply the country with grain and oil once it could be assured it would go to all Syrians.
Baghdad was in talks with Syria's foreign minister over a visit to Iraq, he said.

"We are worried about the ISIS, so we are in contact with the Syrian side to talk about these things, but at the end to have a stable Syria means to have the representative of all components in the political process."

Baghdad and Washington last year agreed to end the US-led coalition's work by September 2026 and transition to bilateral military ties, but Hussein said that the developments in Syria would have to be watched.

"In the first place, we are thinking about security of Iraq and stability in Iraq. If there will be a threat to our country, of course it will be a different story," he said.