PARIS — French diplomatic officials dismissed Israeli military demands for rapid Hezbollah disarmament as fundamentally unrealistic given ongoing air operations across Lebanon.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's special envoy for Lebanon, told France Info radio Wednesday that expecting the Lebanese government to neutralize Hezbollah within days while under active bombardment defies military logic. His comments reflect growing European frustration with Israeli tactical approaches that appear to undermine stated strategic objectives. "Israel occupied southern Lebanon for eighteen years and could not eliminate Hezbollah's military infrastructure," Le Drian observed. "They cannot reasonably expect Lebanon's government to accomplish this mission in seventy-two hours under fire."

The envoy's remarks underscore widening transatlantic disagreements over military strategy in the Levant. European allies increasingly question whether Israeli air campaigns strengthen or weaken prospects for political settlement with Hezbollah, which maintains extensive social services and parliamentary representation alongside its armed wing. Lebanon's government controls less than sixty percent of national territory, with Hezbollah exercising de facto authority across the southern border region and Bekaa Valley.

Military analysts suggest Le Drian's assessment reflects battlefield realities that complicate diplomatic solutions. "Sustained bombing campaigns historically strengthen rather than weaken irregular forces by demonstrating government inability to protect civilians," noted Dr. Sarah Mitchell, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "France recognizes that military pressure on Beirut while simultaneously destroying state infrastructure creates impossible conditions for implementing any ceasefire agreement." European Union foreign ministers are expected to address Lebanon policy coordination during emergency consultations scheduled for next week in Brussels.