French support to Lebanon despite Beirut’s lack of reforms; U.S. imposes sanction on former Lebanese Foreign Minister over alleged Hezbollah ties

PARIS / Washington, D.C. — Although none of the milestones set by the French government have been achieved by the new Lebanese government, the French Development Agency (AFD) has allocated € 25 million to help the Lebanese sectors most affected by the Beirut port explosion, specifically the health, education, and housing sectors.

The French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, said France was intent on responding to the needs associated with the explosion by emphasizing a rapid and targeted response in various priority sectors.

The French commitment to supporting Lebanon despite the lack of reforms from the Lebanese government comes as the U.S. continues to pressure Beirut over Hezbollah.

The Trump administration announced on Thursday its intent to sanction former Lebanese Foreign Minister and son-in-law of President Michel Aoun. The U.S. Department of the Treasury followed through with the sanctions on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed to the sanctions over Bassil’s alleged ties to Hezbollah.