Emmanuel Macron calls for ceasefire as he opens Lebanon conference

The French president has reiterated his call for a ceasefire as he convened a conference in Paris to raise funds to help Lebanon. The country faces a growing humanitarian crisis and deteriorating domestic security situation as Israel continues its offensive against Hezbollah. Sitting long side the Lebanese prime minister, Najib Mikati, Emmanuel Macron said: 'I regret that Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon, in the south, in Beirut, and elsewhere, and that the number of civilian victims continues to increase.' Mikati said: 'The Israeli aggression has not only caused immense human suffering and loss of life, but also inflected severe damage to the country’s infrastructure, economy and social fabric' Macron opens conference aimed at finding path to ceasefire in Lebanon