Aoun: Failure to Extend UNIFIL Will Create a Vacuum

President of the Republic Joseph Aoun informed UK Middle East defense advisor Admiral Edward Ahlgren during his afternoon meeting at Baabda Palace today that "Lebanon welcomes any alternative forces to UNIFIL if extending its mandate becomes impossible, in order to continue implementing Resolution 1701 and support the Lebanese Army in establishing state authority over southern territories up to internationally recognized borders."

He pointed out that "failure to extend UNIFIL and failing to form an alternative international force will create a vacuum that does not serve regional security and stability, especially if Israel continues occupying southern villages and towns as it does now," noting that "Israel refuses to implement the framework agreement reached during the Lebanon-US-Israeli negotiations in Washington, and therefore does not comply with ceasefire commitments, refrains from destroying or demolishing homes, correcting disputed points along the Blue Line, or returning captured Lebanese soldiers to their homeland," adding that "these Israeli practices keep tensions high in the south, despite Lebanon's efforts to implement the framework agreement's provisions."

President Aoun briefed Admiral Ahlgren on "the atmosphere of the preparatory meeting held last week in Paris for the International Conference to Support the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces, where Lebanon presented a report on military and internal security needs and received encouraging responses."

The discussion also covered economic reforms being carried out by the Lebanese government in cooperation with the Parliament, as well as Lebanese-Syrian relations and ongoing coordination between the two countries.

Admiral Ahlgren reiterated "the United Kingdom's full support for Lebanon across all areas, particularly the army," highlighting "Lebanese official positions on recent developments, especially those announced by President Aoun during his visit to Nabatiye region, where he directly inspected damages inflicted on villages and towns, and affirmed the Lebanese state's determination to enforce sovereignty over the entire southern border and remove all armed presence from villages where the army is deployed."