Lebanon’s Aoun urges US to press 'Israel' for pullout from South
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Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun calls on the US to pressure “Israel” to withdraw from the occupied southern territories and respect Resolution 1701.
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, left, speaks with one of his advisors, as he arrives to lead a cabinet meeting, at the Presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Friday, September 5, 2025 (AP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday called on the United States to pressure the Israeli occupation to withdraw from the occupied territories in southern Lebanon, a move he said was necessary to complete the full deployment of the Lebanese Army.
Aoun made the appeal during his meeting in Beirut with Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command’s naval forces. He underlined the importance of activating the ceasefire monitoring committee to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates halting Israeli aggressions, withdrawing from the occupied hills, and returning Lebanese detainees.
Israeli violations hinder deployment
The president warned that continued Israeli violations obstruct the army’s efforts to extend its presence, despite the Lebanese Army having deployed across more than 85% of the area south of the Litani River. He added that Lebanese forces have also begun taking control of weapons from some Palestinian camps.
Aoun highlighted the importance of ongoing US military assistance, noting that additional equipment and vehicles would strengthen Lebanon’s stability and support the government’s reform and reconstruction plans.
Admiral Cooper reiterated Washington’s commitment to providing training and military supplies to the Lebanese Army. He also announced that the “MECHANISM” committee would convene on Sunday to review the situation in southern Lebanon and examine steps to reinforce stability.
Lebanon ties progress in implementation to Israeli commitment
The Lebanese government has endorsed a plan, prepared by the Lebanese Army, to establish the state's exclusive authority over the use of arms through a series of phases; however, it has decided to keep the specific details of the plan confidential.
Following a session dedicated to discussing the plan on Friday, as detailed in a readout delivered by Information Minister Paul Morkos, the government clarified that the Army Command will submit a monthly report to the cabinet on the progress of the plan's implementation.
After reading out the session's resolutions, Morkos told reporters that the army would commence the plan's implementation based on the available resources, noting that while it would operate within the framework decided during the August 5 session, it retains the right to operational discretion.
