France Halts Asylum Appeals for Iranians and Lebanese Amid Rising Tensions
ISTANBUL — March 24, 2026
France’s highest asylum authority has temporarily suspended appeals from Iranian and Lebanese applicants due to worsening security conditions in the Middle East. Officials say the move aims to prevent premature decisions while the situation remains unstable.
Decision Driven by Escalating Conflict
The National Court of Asylum (CNDA) confirmed that it implemented the suspension roughly ten days ago. The court took this step in response to intensifying violence across the region, which has raised concerns about the safety of returning asylum seekers.
As the body responsible for reviewing cases rejected by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra), the CNDA emphasized the need to reassess applications carefully. Authorities want decisions to reflect the rapidly changing security environment in both Iran and Lebanon.
Legal Grounds for Protection
CNDA President Thomas Andrieu stated that European law allows protection for individuals fleeing areas affected by widespread violence. In such situations, civilians face serious risks regardless of their personal background.
Therefore, the court aims to ensure that no applicant is denied protection unfairly during this period of uncertainty.
Regional Violence Intensifies
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. Since February 28, the United States and Israel have carried out airstrikes in Iran, reportedly killing more than 1,340 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In response, Tehran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as neighboring countries such as Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states hosting US military facilities. These strikes have caused casualties, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted global markets and air travel.
At the same time, the situation in Lebanon has deteriorated further. On March 2, Israel expanded its military operations by launching airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other regions in the south and east. A day later, Israeli forces began a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.
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