France’s president began a visit to Lebanon Friday, where he will meet the crisis-hit country’s newly elected leaders, as the nation attempts to recover from the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

Following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beirut, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati highlighted discussions on the country's current challenges and the need for comprehensive international support.

BEIRUT (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel on Friday to accelerate its troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as a deadline nears for the pullout under the terms of a ceasefire that ended the war with Hezbollah last year.