President Aoun Welcomes Macron and Meloni's Proposal on Post-UNIFIL Phase

President Joseph Aoun expressed support for the announcement made yesterday by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni regarding efforts to establish an international alliance focused on the mechanism following the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south.

He described this initiative as a sincere demonstration of the international community's commitment to backing Lebanon's sovereignty and stability, as well as a genuine recognition of the role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining security and extending state authority throughout the country, particularly in the southern border areas.

President Aoun also conveyed his appreciation for the joint Italian-French affirmation on the necessity of avoiding any serious vacuum during the post-UNIFIL phase. He noted that this approach aligns with Lebanon’s consistent view that the Lebanese Army is the sole and true guarantor of security and sovereignty in the south.

Furthermore, he emphasized Lebanon’s openness to any international framework that strengthens the capabilities of its armed forces, preserves the country’s territorial integrity, and prevents Lebanon from becoming a ground for escalation or regional tensions. He reiterated Lebanon’s readiness to coordinate with international partners in ways that serve the Lebanese people’s interests and promote stability in the region.