- Qatar backs Lebanon's stance on the Israeli army's withdrawal from occupied territories, emphasizing support for Lebanese control
- President Aoun thanked Qatar for its ongoing assistance in restoring regional stability and addressing escalation causes
DUBAI: Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Friday reiterated his country’s support to the Lebanese army.
Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Qatar’s foreign minister, made the remarks after meeting with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda.
“Qatar supports Lebanon in all the measures it is taking and the Lebanese state’s position regarding the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the occupied [Lebanese] territories, and that the Lebanese army takes control, which Qatar will continue to support,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Israel has linked its withdrawal from southern Lebanon to disarming Hezbollah and strengthening the Lebanese army. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on June 21 that the Israeli military would continue operating there, and troops deployed in the “security zone” would not withdraw and would retain freedom of action to eliminate threats.
Aoun meanwhile thanked the Qatari leadership “in their constant pursuit of restoring stability to the countries of the region, through bringing viewpoints closer and removing the causes that lead to escalation,” a statement from the Lebanese presidency noted.
“President Aoun thanked the Emir of Qatar and the Qatari government for the support that Lebanon receives in all fields, wishing that Qatar would continue its efforts with brotherly Arab countries and friendly states to press Israel to halt its aggressions in the south and implement the framework agreement reached as a result of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under American sponsorship,” the statement read.
Aoun also reiterated his condemnation of aggression against Gulf countries, the latest of which were the series of attacks against Saudi Arabia.
The Lebanese president also highlighted the continued “continuous Israeli aggressions to which the south is being subjected, and the resulting casualties, injuries, and destruction of southern villages and towns occupied by Israel.”
On their bilateral relations, Aoun welcomed possible cooperation on especially on the energy sector in which Qatar had previously expressed readiness to help Lebanon ease its electricity crisis.
