French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech during the 18th edition of French conference on the maritime economy in Nantes western France, Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

BEIRUT — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday assured that France is keen to support and enhance Lebanon's stability, security and independence, said a statement by the Lebanese Council of Ministers.

"We have constantly supported these goals," Macron was quoted as saying in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Macron also underscored the urgent need to elect a new president for Lebanon to help the country emerge from its current crisis and avoid security deterioration

The French president added that he informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on several occasions that France is concerned about the danger of escalation and the spread of the Gaza conflict into Lebanon, referring to the Israeli conflict with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.

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Macron warned that the spread of the conflict into Lebanon "will have serious consequences" for the country and its people, adding that "no party should use the Lebanese territory in a way that contradicts the country's sovereign interests."

Macron also underscored the urgent need to elect a new president for Lebanon to help the country emerge from its current crisis and avoid security deterioration associated with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

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The Lebanese southern border has witnessed cautious calm over the past two days after seven weeks of confrontations between Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite military group, and Israeli forces after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel on Oct 8 in support of the Hamas surprise attack on Israel the previous day.