This afternoon, the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed with him the recent developments, especially the announcement of a ceasefire and the ongoing preparations to launch negotiations based on President Aoun’s initiative in this field. The President of the Republic thanked the French President for the support that Lebanon receives from him and from France in all fields, and for the assistance that his country provided to end the suffering of the Lebanese people. During the call, President Aoun consoled President Macron with the martyrdom of the French soldier working for UNIFIL and the wounding of a number of his comrades while they were on a mission in the southern town of Ghandouriya, by gunfire from gunmen in the area. President Aoun strongly condemned the targeting of the French force, which is performing its duties on Lebanese territory in the service of peace and stability in its area of ​​deployment in the south, praising the sacrifices of international soldiers and wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded. The President of the Republic affirmed that Lebanon, which categorically refuses to attack UNIFIL, is committed to preserving the safety of these forces and ensuring the appropriate conditions for performing their tasks, and that he issued his directives to the competent agencies to immediately investigate this incident and determine responsibilities, stressing that Lebanon will not hesitate to pursue those involved and bring them to justice.