Beirut – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced Friday an initiative aimed at achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities and consolidating arms control within the state. In a televised address commemorating Independence Day, President Aoun stated Lebanon’s readiness to negotiate with Israel under the auspices of the United Nations, the United States, or a joint international framework, to definitively halt cross-border attacks.
The initiative, according to President Aoun, proposes that friendly nations establish clear timelines for an international mechanism to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and facilitate reconstruction, ultimately leading to the centralization of all weapons under state control. He reiterated the Lebanese Army’s readiness to assume control of occupied points along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel.
“We affirm the Army’s readiness to take over the occupied points in the South,” President Aoun declared. “We are ready to negotiate, under UN, American, or international auspices, any agreement for a definitive cessation of hostilities.”
President Aoun emphasized that circumstances have changed, and that Lebanon is weary of the current state of affairs. Earlier on Friday, during an inspection of the army headquarters in Tyre, southern Lebanon, accompanied by Army Commander Rudolph Heikel, Aoun affirmed that the army continues to make sacrifices, undeterred by campaigns of disparagement and incitement. He stressed that the army, which protects the Lebanese people, remains steadfast in its commitment to defending national dignity, sovereignty, and independence.
For his part, Army Commander Heikel stated that the army is fully aware of the exceptional circumstances surrounding the implementation of the deployment plan, which is proceeding according to schedule. He added that the army has made tremendous efforts since the cessation of hostilities agreement to strengthen its presence in southern Lebanon and extend state authority over its territories, adhering to Resolution 1701.
Despite the agreement, which came into effect on November 27, 2024, Israel continues to occupy points within Lebanese territory and launch extensive attacks on Lebanon. Israel alleges that the Lebanese government is not doing enough to fulfill its obligations under the agreement, focusing on the demand for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
