Lebanon: Ortagus returns to follow up on army arms control plan
Media reports indicate that U.S. Deputy Envoy to Lebanon Morgan Ortagus is scheduled to arrive in Beirut today, accompanied by U.S. Central Command leader Brad Cooper, to review the Lebanese Army’s plan to consolidate weapons under state control.
The delegation will hold a series of meetings with security and military officials, and will also meet with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) monitoring team in Naqoura to discuss security developments in the area.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun met with the U.S. Central Command leader, urging the United States to pressure Israel for a full withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories to allow the army to complete its deployment up to the international borders in accordance with UN Resolution 1701. Aoun noted that the army has already positioned itself in over 85% of the area south of the Litani River and continues efforts to prevent armed displays and confiscate weapons and ammunition, despite difficult geographical and logistical conditions that have resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers.
Aoun also indicated that the army has begun receiving weapons from certain Palestinian camps following an agreement reached during Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to Beirut. The U.S. military official had departed to Cyprus and is expected to return on Sunday to accompany Ortagus in the meeting of the UNIFIL committee overseeing the ceasefire in Naqoura.
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