Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has appointed former ambassador and lawyer Simon Karam to head Lebanon’s delegation to the Mechanism (IMIM), the body established under the November 27, 2024, Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities, to monitor and enforce the ceasefire agreement.

The announcement was delivered on Tuesday by Presidential spokesperson Najat Sharafeddine, who said the decision was taken “in adherence to the President’s constitutional oath and responsibilities to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and supreme national interests.”

According to the statement, the move comes in response to the efforts made by the United States, acting as chair of the Mechanism, and after Washington informed Beirut that the Israeli side had agreed to include a non-military member within its delegation. The inclusion of a civilian or non-military figure is a key procedural adjustment that has been under discussion in recent weeks.

The Presidency said the decision followed coordination with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, underscoring that the choice of Karam reflects a unified institutional position on the format and representation of Lebanon in upcoming meetings.

Karam will participate in the Committee’s session scheduled today, in Naqoura, in his new capacity as head of the Lebanese delegation.

The statement added that all relevant stakeholders have been formally notified.

Al Mayadeen's Beirut Bureau Chief, Roni Alfa, said that the Lebanese Presidency's statement affirms Lebanon's readiness to attend talks in an effective capacity, and added that the addition of the non-military envoy, Karam, was agreed upon to pursue non-technical matters.

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What is the Mechanism, IMIM?

Under the ceasefire terms, both sides committed to a broad cessation of hostilities: Hezbollah and other Resistance groups agreed to halt operations against "Israel", while Israel pledged to stop offensive operations against Lebanese territory; a commitment that has so far remained unfulfilled.

To monitor and implement the agreement, including arms‑out provisions, troop deployments, border control, and reporting of violations, the Mechanism brings together representatives of Israeli occupation forces, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in indirect talks under US–French coordination.

Since its first session in December 2024, the committee has held multiple rounds of meetings in Naqoura to discuss full implementation of the ceasefire accord and relevant UN mandates. However, Israeli aggression against Lebanon has continued unabated. 

Why Lebanon chose a civilian head now

The inclusion of a civilian or non‑military member, in this case a seasoned diplomat and lawyer, signals Lebanon’s interest in broadening representation beyond purely military or security technicalities, possibly to lend greater political and diplomatic legitimacy and to reflect civilian‑state sovereignty in sensitive negotiations.

According to the Presidency, the step is also a response to recent US efforts and Israeli consent to adjust the composition of the Mechanism’s delegations. This comes after multiple threats were leveled against Beirut, especially relating to reports in Israeli media, which pointed to the Israeli military and security commands urging an expanded aggression against Lebanon

Karam’s participation as head of Lebanon’s delegation in today’s Naqoura session sets a precedent for civilian inclusion in indirect talks with the Israeli regime.

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