French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Thursday evening that his country will not participate in the ongoing war in the Middle East, stressing that France is not part of the fighting, and that it is working to protect its citizens and allies and stands by Lebanon.

Published on: 03/06/2026 - 02:02 Last updated: 03/06/2026 - 07:32

French President Emmanuel Macron said on his Instagram account in response to a user who expressed her concern about the repercussions of the Israeli-American attack on Iran: “I understand the matter well and I hear your concerns, but I want to be very clear: France is not part of this war. We are not participating in the fighting and we will not enter this war.”

Macron stressed that his country "does not wage a war in this region," adding that France is working to protect French men and women and its allies, stressing at the same time that Paris stands by Lebanon.

France has close relations with Lebanon, which was previously subject to the French mandate, and Paris still seeks to maintain its role in it.

Macron also indicated that France sent military reinforcements to the Near and Middle East, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, with the aim of protecting French citizens and their allies who may be affected by the Iranian response, in addition to helping to intercept drones and missiles.

At the conclusion of his speech, he explained that these steps fall within a French effort “to mobilize in a completely peaceful way to try to secure maritime traffic,” adding that Paris will try to be “as rational and peaceful as possible because this is France’s role.”

Macron later announced that France would strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and would provide them with armored transport vehicles in addition to operational and logistical support, at a time when Lebanon was drawn into the ongoing war in the Middle East earlier this week.

Read also: Lebanon: Anger at Hezbollah and the logic of “suicide and self-destruction” in confronting Israel

“Every effort must be made to prevent this country, which is close to France, from being dragged into war again,” he wrote in a post on the X platform.

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Macron also called on the Israeli Prime Minister not to expand the scope of the war to include Lebanon, and he also urged Iranian leaders not to involve Lebanon further in a war “with which it has nothing to do.”

A statement issued by the Lebanese presidency stated that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked Emmanuel Macron to intervene not to target the southern suburb of Beirut, after threats made by the Israeli military command to its residents, calling on them to evacuate.

France confirmed that it seeks to prevent escalation in the region, and has taken steps to protect its positions in the midst of the broader conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Macron also stressed the need for Hezbollah to stop firing on Israel "immediately," calling on Israel in return to refrain from any ground intervention or large-scale operation on Lebanese territory.

France 24/AFP

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