„Based on a report I requested from our Consul General in Turkey, who informed me of sexual violence, exposure to the cold, beatings, and repeated humiliation of French nationals, all of these acts are likely to constitute criminal offences (and) I decided yesterday to refer the matter to the public prosecutor,“ Barrot told France Inter radio.
Archiv: Frankreich / France
Joint Statement from the leaders of the E4 + Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the Netherlands on the situation in the West Bank
(May 22, 2026)
We call on the Government of Israel to …
Potential strike on Iran by June: UK, France gather 40 nations to discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
In the “Potential Strike on Iran by June” market, the likelihood of a strike by the UK, France, or Germany is currently priced at 4.3% YES, showing minimal change from previous days. In parallel, the “Warships Through Strait of Hormuz by May 31” market reflects a 12% YES probability for UK warships passing through, maintaining the same level as 24 hours ago.
Treffen der Verteidigungsminister zu Hormuz-Einsatz
Großbritannien und Frankreich veranstalten am Dienstag eine Videokonferenz zur Absicherung der Schifffahrt in der Straße von Hormuz. Über 40 Staaten sollen an dem Treffen teilnehmen. Dabei werden militärische Beiträge zur Wiedereröffnung und Sicherung der Straße von Hormuz besprochen, sobald die Umstände dies zulassen. Verteidigungsministerin Claudia Tanner (ÖVP) ist nicht unter den Teilnehmenden.
US and UK discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
Talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a meeting involving defence ministers from around 40 countries, according to the United States Department of State.
The discussions come amid continued disruption to global shipping and energy flows linked to the conflict involving Iran.
British Defence Secretary John Healey and French counterpart Catherine Vautrin are expected to co-chair the coalition meeting later on Tuesday.
Angriff der Hisbollah vermutet: Französischer Blauhelmsoldat im Libanon getötet
(today)
UN-Soldaten beseitigten auf einer Straße im Süden Libanons Sprengsätze. Dabei gerieten sie unter Beschuss. Ein französischer Soldat wurde getötet. Frankreich vermutet die pro-iranische Hisbollah hinter dem Angriff.
Israeli opposition leader calls to revive ‚South Lebanon Army‘ to assist with occupation
(October 10, 2024)
Lapid advocated regime change in Lebanon, saying, “the international community will need to appoint a sort of oversight committee for Lebanon to manage its civilian life for a set period until elections can be held and a new government can take control.”
Crucial to this effort would be the establishment of a collaborator Lebanese army loyal to Israel and its Western and Gulf allies.
(…)
Lapid claimed it would be easy to recruit Lebanese by paying soldiers in a new army $500 a month. New recruits would then be trained by French, Emirati, and US military officers.
The South Lebanon Army (SLA) was established by Israel in 1976 after the collapse of the Lebanese government due to civil war.
Hezbollah denies involvement in deadly attack on UN peacekeepers
Hezbollah on Saturday denied it was involved in a deadly attack on United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon, after France accused the group of being behind the incident.
„Hezbollah denies any connection to the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh-Bint Jbeil area, and calls for caution in making judgments and assigning responsibilities regarding the incident pending the Lebanese Army‘s investigations to determine the full circumstances of the incident,“ the group said in a statement.
One peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded from the French battalion, with Paris blaming Hezbollah.
UNIFIL statement (18 April 2026)
18 April 2026
This morning, a UNIFIL patrol clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UNIFIL positions came under small-arms fire from non-state-actors. Tragically, one peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries and three others were injured, two of them seriously.
The injured peacekeepers have been taken to medical facilities for treatment.
We extend our most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the brave peacekeeper who lost his life in service of peace. Our thoughts and wishes go out for the full and speedy recovery of the injured peacekeepers.
UNIFIL condemns this deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in their mandated tasks. The work of explosive ordnance disposal teams is vital in the mission’s area of operations especially in the wake of the recent hostilities.
UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Initial assessment indicates the fire came from non-state actors (allegedly Hizbullah).
We reiterate the obligations of all actors under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times. Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes.
UNIFIL calls on the Government of Lebanon to swiftly initiate an investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes committed against UNIFIL peacekeepers.
French soldier killed in Lebanon in attack on UN peacekeepers
Macron named the soldier as Florian Montorio, a staff sergeant in the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban serving with Unifil, the United Nations‘ peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
He was killed on Saturday morning in southern Lebanon, the president said in a post on X. The three soldiers wounded in the same attack were evacuated, he added.
„Everything suggests that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack,“ Macron said. „France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and assume their responsibilities alongside Unifil.“
But Hezbollah denied any connection to the attack. In a statement, the group urged „caution in making judgments and assigning responsibilities“ pending the results of an investigation by the Lebanese army.
Garde à vue de Rima Hassan : comment des policiers ont pisté l’eurodéputée
Visée par une enquête pour apologie de terrorisme ouverte le 27 mars 2026, la députée européenne LFI a fait face à une débauche de moyens policiers. Sa ligne téléphonique a été tracée pour consigner tous ses déplacements depuis le 1er janvier. « Il n’existe aucune justification à ces mesures », s’indigne son avocat.
France under fire over alleged surveillance of pro-Palestine MEP
Hassan had been under surveillance since January 2026, with authorities reportedly geolocating her phone and closely tracking her movements and daily schedule, reported Mediapart, a French investigative online newspaper.
Opposition lawmakers have condemned the alleged surveillance as a “state scandal.”
Antoine Leaument, a lawmaker from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI), called on Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin to provide an immediate explanation regarding the claims.
Questions persist over prosecution of radical-left French MEP Rima Hassan for ‚condoning terrorism‘
(April 4, 2026)
On Thursday, expressions of support came almost entirely from LFI and the far-left. For the anti-capitalist NPA, Olivier Besancenot expressed his “solidarity with Rima Hassan” on X, as did Nathalie Arthaud, the spokesperson for the Trotskyist Lutte ouvrière (LO).
Two former LFI members, Alexis Corbière and Clémentine Autain, also spoke out. “A member of the European Parliament placed in police custody for a retweet? Freedom of expression applied selectively is not the Republic,” said the latter. “The disproportionate repression of expressions of support for Palestine is clear, it must stop,” wrote the former.
On Friday, a handful of elected representatives from other parties began to join the chorus of criticism, including the communist MP Elsa Faucillon, who deplored a “relentless campaign revealing the mobilisation of the state apparatus against any solidarity with Palestine” and the Green MP Benjamin Lucas, who denounced “double standards”. Another Green MP, Sandrine Rousseau, expressed her “support” for Rima Hassan.
More surprisingly, the socialist MEP Chloé Ridel, a close ally of the Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, also commented: “Everything about the police custody imposed on the European Member of Parliament Rima Hassan is disproportionate and violates her parliamentary immunity, whatever our disagreements. Was Louis Sarkozy [editor‘s note, son of former president Nicolas Sarkozy and a political commentator] placed in custody when he said about Palestinians ‘let them all die’?”
UK and France to co-host talks this week on possible defensive naval mission for Hormuz
„This week the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends,“ Starmer posted on X.
Britain has previously convened representatives of more than 40 countries that share the aim of restoring freedom of navigation. The United States was not involved in those talks.
Iran entered talks with seriousness, outcome depends on US approach: Pezeshkian
President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has entered the talks with the United States in Islamabad with „determination and seriousness,“ stressing that the success of the process depends on Washington‘s approach.
He made the remarks during a phone call with his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron, on Saturday, his office said in a statement.
Underlining the importance of the US attitude towards the process to its success, President Pezeshkian reminded how it was Washington‘s previous instances of betraying diplomatic engagements with Tehran by subjecting the Islamic Republic to military aggression that scuttled the negotiations.
Macron, Saudi Crown Prince discuss expanding Iran ceasefire to Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran during a phone call on Saturday, emphasizing the need to extend it to Lebanon.
The call comes as direct negotiations between the United States and Iran began in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, earlier on Saturday.
French ship makes first Western European transit of Hormuz since Iran conflict
Data showed the Kribi exited the Gulf and was sailing off Muscat, Oman, on Friday. During its journey, the vessel displayed “Owner France” on its tracking system, a field normally used to indicate destination.
Shipping data showed the ship changed its listed destination to “Owner France” before entering Iranian territorial waters, signalling its nationality to authorities. It had originally been bound for Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo.
Here Are The Countries’ Ships Allowed Through Iran’s Strait Of Hormuz
(March 27, 2026)
Below are other „friendly“ nations to Iran whose vessels are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
A Bid to Use Force to Open Strait of Hormuz Hits Roadblocks at U.N. Security Council
The actual vote on the resolution, which was drafted by Bahrain with the support of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, is expected to be scheduled for Friday. But it remained unclear whether extra hours of diplomacy would bring the three veto-holding countries on board.
Russia, China and France are among the five permanent members of the council with veto power. There were also divisions over the resolution among the 10 nonpermanent members, according to diplomats.
Russia, China, France veto UNSC resolution to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Arab nations, led by Bahrain, seeking UN Security Council authorisation for military intervention to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have faced a major setback as Russia, China and France vetoed the proposed resolution.
The strategic Strait of Hormuz—through which approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies transit—was closed by Iran on 28 February 2026 amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel.
Macron rejects military plan as allies push to reopen Strait of Hormuz
“We have today foreign ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries gathered to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the consequences of its closure, the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation for international shipping, and our firm international determination to see the strait reopened,” British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said at the start of a virtual meeting.
The meeting was announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as United States President Donald Trump urged countries that depend on the route to take action.
Straße von Hormus: „Gewalt ist keine Option“
Wer ein Bündnis eingehe, müsse seinen Verpflichtungen gerecht werden, kritisierte Macron. Man könne nicht jeden Tag das Gegenteil dessen sagen, was man am Vortag gesagt habe. Es wäre sinnvoller, weniger zu reden und sich stattdessen für einen gerechten Frieden einzusetzen.
South Africa says France has disinvited it from G7 gathering in June
The spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa said they have learned that Paris has had to withdraw its invitation due to sustained pressure from the United States.
Vincent Magwenya said they have been told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited.
French President Emmanuel Macron personally asked Ramaphosa to take part in the G7 during the G20 summit in South Africa in November.
French armed forces chief held video call with 35 countries on Hormuz strait
(today)
France‘s armed forces chief, General Fabien Mandon, held a video conference call with 35 countries on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, France‘s defence ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry did not disclose which countries had joined the call.
„This initiative, independent of the ongoing military operations in the region, is strictly defensive in nature. Its purpose is to organize the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased,“ it said in a statement.
‘Preparing for war:’ At French naval conference, a grim realism
(February 6, 2026)
PARIS — As he stood on the stage to deliver a keynote speech, Gen. Fabien Mandon, France’s military chief of staff, summed up the theme of the Paris Naval Conference in six direct words.
“Today,” he said, “we are preparing for war.”
The tone of the event, which saw leaders from NATO sea services gather in Paris Feb. 2-3, was decidedly direct: that France and its allies need to consider the reality that high-intensity conflict is likely in the near future. And, according to Mandon, France is not yet fully prepared.
What to know about Israel’s Dimona nuclear site
In 1957, France provided support and approval, supplying Israel with a heavy-water, pressurized reactor. Dimona entered operation around 1963, with a reported capacity of 26 megawatts.
At the heart of the facility’s significance is its role in handling nuclear fuel.
Dimona processes spent nuclear fuel, described as the first stage in producing the atomic bomb, with the fuel then transferred elsewhere to be stored or mounted on missiles.
By 1967, reports cited from the US State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research pointed to a reprocessing plant for uranium and production of weapons-usable plutonium, concluding that Israel possessed a nuclear bomb.
Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz: 19 March 2026
Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, we emphasise that such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security.