Aoun and Berri renew support for the Lebanese army to strengthen state sovereignty and security in the south
Aoun and Berri reaffirm state sovereignty and exclusive control of weapons by the army
In simultaneous statements, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri renewed their full support for the Lebanese army and its achievements in extending state authority across the country. President Aoun expressed his appreciation for the armed forces’ role in maintaining security and stability, particularly in southern Lebanon, noting that the army’s deployment south of the Litani River is based on a national decision aligned with the constitution, state resolutions, and relevant international obligations.
Aoun highlighted that sustainable stability is linked to addressing pending issues, including the continued Israeli presence in certain Lebanese areas and ongoing violations of sovereignty on land, sea, and air, which pose a threat to civilian security and overall stability.
The president also stated that a complete Israeli withdrawal, respect for the cessation of hostilities, and the release of prisoners are essential for enabling the state to exercise its sovereignty, ensuring the safe return of displaced civilians, launching a structured reconstruction process for affected southern areas, and addressing operational issues through available mechanisms. He called on the international community to support Lebanon in implementing the agreement and ensuring that weapons remain exclusively under the Lebanese armed forces.
In a similar statement, Berri expressed his support for the Lebanese army’s statement, praising its achievements. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining the army’s presence in the south to protect Lebanese territory, noting that attempts by Israel to target UNIFIL forces pose challenges to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
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