Lebanese President Michel Aoun has called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to fully implement a ceasefire and withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. The appeal was made during a meeting with a delegation of representatives from member states of the United Nations Security Council on Friday.
According to a statement released by the Lebanese Presidential Palace, President Aoun emphasized Lebanon’s commitment to upholding international resolutions during the meeting held at the Baabda Presidential Palace in Beirut. He also stressed the importance of supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in their efforts to maintain security and stability.
The UN delegation reportedly expressed its support for stability in Lebanon through the implementation of international resolutions, bolstering the Lebanese Army, and ensuring that the state maintains a monopoly on the use of force.
The delegation’s visit to Lebanon aims to address the ongoing tensions between Lebanon and Israel, as well as the future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission, which is set to conclude at the end of next year. The delegation is scheduled to meet with the President of Parliament and conduct a tour of southern Lebanon to assess the situation on the ground.
This visit follows unprecedented talks between Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives, held under US auspices in Naqoura, aimed at de-escalating tensions along the southern border. It also comes a day after the Lebanese Council of Ministers reviewed the army’s plan to ensure the state’s control over all weapons within the country.
On Thursday, President Aoun stated that the initial round of negotiations with Israel in Naqoura had paved the way for future sessions, scheduled to begin on December 19th. He emphasized the need for dialogue and negotiation to prevail over conflict, according to a statement from the Presidential Palace. President Aoun also chaired a session of the Council of Ministers at the Baabda Palace, where he announced the appointment of former Ambassador Simon Karam as head of the Lebanese delegation to the ceasefire monitoring committee between Lebanon and Israel, known as the ‘Mechanism Committee’. He clarified that this appointment was intended to protect Lebanon and avert the threat of war.
During the Council of Ministers session, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces presented a report on the security situation.
