Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his country's welcome for any international formula ensuring an international presence in southern Lebanon after the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), scheduled for 2027, to avoid a security vacuum. He pointed out that Israeli attacks are obstructing the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the south in implementation of Resolution 1701.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that this came during a meeting between Aoun and a French ministerial delegation led by French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot in the capital Beirut on Saturday. Aoun clarified that Lebanon prefers the extension of UNIFIL's mandate or its continuation in performing its security tasks. In case this is not possible, he welcomed France's efforts at the UN and the Security Council to reach an alternative formula that prevents the emergence of a vacuum in the south.
Regarding the situation in southern Lebanon, Aoun stressed that Israel continues its attacks on southern villages and towns, persisting in land levelling, destroying homes, and preventing farmers from accessing their lands to harvest crops. He noted that Israel has not complied with the parameters of the framework agreement reached between the two countries under US sponsorship.
Aoun noted that the Lebanese military delegation will participate in the trilateral meeting scheduled to be held in Tampa, Florida, on October 20, to present Lebanese demands regarding the cessation of Israeli escalation. He expressed hope that the talks would yield results consistent with the framework agreement.
For his part, Barrot confirmed France's continued support for Lebanon, in cooperation with European partners, emphasizing his country's commitment to supporting its sovereignty, stability, and security. Barrot called for establishing a new international structure supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and supporting the re-deployment of its armed forces, thereby preventing the emergence of a security vacuum in the south.
Earlier, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji stressed on Friday his country's insistence on the presence of an international force under the UN flag in southern Lebanon to replace UNIFIL upon the expiration of its mandate at the end of this year. UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978, with a strength of approximately 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries. The UN Security Council decided in August last year to end the international force's mandate by December 31, 2026.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)