France urges Iran-backed groups to show restraint if US-Iran tensions escalate

France's foreign minister is urging Iran-backed groups in the Middle East to show restraint if tensions escalate between Iran and the U.S. He made the remarks in Beirut on Friday after visiting Syria and Iraq. Concerns have risen that Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon could join a conflict if the U.S. attacks Iran. The minister emphasized avoiding military escalation to prevent regional destabilization. He discussed disarming Lebanon’s Hezbollah and an upcoming conference in France to support the Lebanese army. Lebanon's army is struggling during an economic crisis linked to long-standing corruption and mismanagement.