The General Staff of the French Army announced that a French Navy ship sailed yesterday, Monday, from southeast… France “To be stationed off the Lebanese coast as a precaution in case France is forced to evacuate its nationals from Lebanon“.
The Authority explained that the French BHA amphibious helicopter carrier sailed from the port of Toulon, heading to the eastern Mediterranean, noting that its journey will take 5 to 6 days to reach the region.
According to the French General Staff, the aircraft carrier that has already sailed is “equipped with helicopters and a combat group that will be mobilized in the event that it is forced to evacuate French citizens.”
Agence France-Presse quoted a high-ranking official in the General Staff as saying, “We are strengthening our resources to deal with the deterioration of the situation,” but he did not specify the name of the ship.
France owns three amphibious helicopter carriers: “Mistral”, “Dexmod” and “Tonnerre”. Each one weighs 21,500 tons and is 199 meters long. They act as “floating ports” that can accommodate hundreds of people.
About 23,000 French, or French-Lebanese, reside in Lebanon. The French Embassy in Lebanon has established a telephone answering cell that operates seven days a week, according to what Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said yesterday during his visit to the capital. Beirut.
Israel informed the United States yesterday that it intends to carry out “limited” ground operations targeting Hezbollah In Lebanon, according to the US State Department, it also established a “closed military zone” around 3 areas in northern Lebanon on the border with Israel.