French President Emmanuel Macron warned Israel about the risks of any ground operations in Lebanon, stressing that “occupation does not provide security for anyone.” His remarks came during the opening of a cultural exhibition dedicated to the city of Byblos at the Arab World Institute in Paris, attended by Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh.

Macron emphasized that security cannot be achieved through wars or the invasion of countries, calling for respect for international law amid rising regional tensions. He noted that Lebanon offers a model of pluralism and openness despite the challenges, at a time when conflicts are pushing the region toward further escalation.

The exhibition, titled “Byblos, an Ancient Lebanese City,” opens today, Tuesday, and runs until August 23. It explores the history of Byblos as one of the oldest continuously inhabited ports in the world, dating back to around 6900 BC. The exhibition includes around 400 artifacts, most of them from Lebanon, along with selected pieces from the Louvre Museum.

Sarkis Khoury, Director General of Antiquities at the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, who oversaw the transfer of the works from Beirut to Paris, explained that the preparations for the exhibition faced major challenges.

The exhibition is being held despite the challenges posed by military escalation, in what has been seen as a cultural message affirming the resilience of Lebanese heritage in the face of crises.