Macron and Aoun discuss efforts to back Lebanon’s army, end Israeli attacks

The leaders of France, Lebanon and Jordan convened in Paris to drum up international support for the Lebanese army. Macron welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and King Abdullah II of Jordan to Paris for the talks on Thursday. The meetings come after a US-mediated framework deal was agreed between Israel and Lebanon in June. But the agreement did not force Israel to withdraw from the large area of southern Lebanon it occupies, and Israel has continued its attacks on the country. The agenda also included the creation of a new force to succeed a longstanding United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.