Macron offers solidarity as France sends assistance to Lebanon

PARIS, Aug 4 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday offered "brotherly solidarity" to Lebanon after a massive explosion devastated the port area of Beirut earlier in the day.
Dozens are believed to have died and hundreds wounded in the unprecedented blast which has not yet been explained.
"I express my brotherly solidarity with the Lebanese people after the explosion that caused so many victims this evening in Beirut," Macron said on Twitter.
Separately, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who has just recently returned from a visit to Lebanon, promised France would respond to Lebanese requests for assistance.
"France will always stand by Lebanon and the Lebanese," Le Drian Tweeted, adding Paris "is disposed to bring assistance in function of needs expressed by the Lebanese authorities." New reports here said rescue teams were already gearing up to leave for Lebanon and help with the recovery process. (end) jk.bs