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. Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Lebanon,

Displaced Lebanese residents were shot by Israeli forces as they returned to southern Lebanon despite warnings that troops had yet to withdraw.

Macron also spoke to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the visit. Paris has sought to get Riyadh to re-engage in Lebanon for months and the arrival of Joseph Aoun to the presidency and Nawaf Salam as prime minister has helped that process.

The French president is scheduled to meet prime ministerial nominee Nouf Salam and newly elected President Joseph Aoun.

New developments following the election of Western-backed Joseph Aoun as president perhaps offer hope for generating political momentum and restoring the international community's confidence in Lebanon.

During a press conference at Baabda Palace, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun conveyed a hopeful message to French President Emmanuel Macron. "I hope you will testify to the entire world that the Lebanese people's trust in their country and state has been restored and that the world's confidence in Lebanon must fully return because the true and genuine Lebanon has revived,

The White House said Sunday that a deal between Lebanon and Israel had been extended until February 18, as Israel missed a previous deadline to pull troops.

The Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire.

French leader Emmanuel Macron is due to visit Lebanon on Friday, both countries said, in the second such trip by a head of state since Lebanon elected a president last week.

French leader Emmanuel Macron is slated to visit Lebanon on Friday, the Lebanese presidency said, in the second such trip by a head of state since the crisis-hit country elected a president last week.

The ceasefire in Lebanon was given a last-minute extension over the weekend after the Israeli military opened fire on civilians trying to return home — killing at least 22.