France, Italy, etc. "Support for Strengthening the Role of the Lebanese Army"

Nine European Union and EU countries adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea have decided to support the strengthening of the Lebanese military's role in southern Lebanon, where Israel's offensive continues, the Associated Press reported.

"We will continue to provide additional support to Lebanon and its people, including the Lebanese army, which should play a significant stabilizing role," the nine countries, including France, Italy and Spain, said in a joint statement after the summit in Cyprus.

The countries have called for a cease-fire, with strong concerns about rising military tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, saying the war in Gaza could spread to a wider region.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed at a news conference that the return of Lebanese troops to southern Lebanon and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty were "essential to peace and stability."

It also did not specify how it would provide support, but explained that it would increase aid supplies to Lebanon and help strengthen Lebanese troops and internal security forces at a meeting in Paris on the 24th.

In a joint statement, Macron, Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the injuries to U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon by Israeli shelling, saying they "express anger."

The leaders said the attack was a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and urged an immediate end to the unjustified attack.

Macron also reiterated that "this is the only way to end the war," saying the country must stop exporting weapons used in Gaza and Lebanon.