Ammon News - France's Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu will start a visit on Tuesday to the Middle East to discuss the Gaza situation and regional security issues at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron.

"At the request of the President of the Republic, I am traveling today to the Near and Middle East to discuss the situation in Gaza and regional security, following on from the numerous contacts maintained since October 7," Lecornu wrote on X.

"This trip will begin in Egypt and continue in the Gulf. It will end on Friday in Israel, the first trip by a French Minister of the Armed Forces since 2000," he added.