Macron speaks to Syrian, Lebanese presidents amid fears of war spreading

French President Emmanuel Macron has held phone conversations with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, amid growing fears that the war sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran is fast spreading to other parts of the Middle East and beyond. “France is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region,” Macron said, in a post on X. “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and Lebanon must be respected, as must the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country in the region. The ongoing acts of destabilization must leave no room for terrorism. France will ensure that this is the case.”