Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldiers as France hosts talks

Paris meet raises funds for humanitarian aid and Lebanon’s military, calls for ceasefire

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BEIRUT An Israeli strike killed three Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon on Oct 24, as France hosted a conference to rally support for Lebanese state forces seen as vital to any diplomatic resolution of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The soldiers were killed as they were evacuating wounded people on the outskirts of the southern village of Yater, the Lebanese army said.

The village is part of the border region Israel has pounded during its month-long offensive against the heavily armed, Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, in a conflict that spiralled out of the Gaza war.

With more than 2,500 people killed by Israel's offensive in Lebanon and over a million forced from their homes, the Paris conference aimed to mobilise both humanitarian aid and support for the Lebanese military.

The conference on Oct 24 saw world powers raising US$1 billion (S$1.32 billion), with France's foreign minister urging Israel to heed the message to cease hostilities and focus on diplomacy.

"The message (for Israel) is simple: Cease fire!" France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told a news conference, reiterating that a Franco-American proposal for a truce was still on the table.