BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on the sponsors of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah to “pressure Israel to abide by it in order to maintain their credibility and ensure the implementation of what was agreed upon to restore stability.”
Aoun met France’s presidential envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, on Wednesday. Le Drian is visiting Lebanon as part of preparations for the French-Lebanese summit set to be held next Friday at the Elysee Palace.
According to the presidential media office, Aoun assured the French envoy that he is “determined, along with the government, to overcome the difficulties that may hinder Lebanon’s reform process in the economic, banking, financial, and judicial sectors, and to find appropriate solutions in cooperation with the relevant parties.”
Aoun said: “The administrative measures that will be taken will send a positive message both domestically and internationally.”
The president also clarified that he will raise during the Paris summit “topics of mutual interest and ways to strengthen and develop Lebanese-French relations.”
Le Drian also met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, parliament speaker Nabih Berri, and Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.
In a statement, he reaffirmed “France’s continuous support for Lebanon and its stability.”
He praised “the inaugural speech of the president and the vision it presented for Lebanon, as well as the seriousness of the Lebanese government's work,” highlighting “the importance of maintaining the international momentum that accompanied the new presidency and the formation of the government by implementing the necessary reforms and preserving Lebanese unity to enhance the confidence of the international and Arab communities in Lebanon and attract investments to the country.”
Salam said that “the purpose of the French envoy’s visit is to discuss reconstruction,” but warned that “no one in Lebanon wants normalization with Israel.”
He said the “international and Arab diplomatic pressure on Israel to cease its aggressions has not been exhausted,” but expressed concern over the situation in the south “in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks, especially following the rocket launch that occurred last week.”
Salam said the “five hills that Israel insists on retaining hold no military or security value, except for maintaining pressure on Lebanon.”
He rejected “all Israeli talk regarding the displacement of residents from Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state outside of historical Palestine,” emphasizing the “importance of rallying Arab and international support to confront this project.”
The premier received a call last Monday from Morgan Ortagus, deputy special envoy of the US to the Middle East, following the escalation in the south due to unidentified rockets being fired from southern Lebanon toward the Metula settlement in Israel.
A source in Salam’s office told Arab News: “Ortagus assured Salam that she is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon and will be making a visit to the country soon, but no specific date has been provided.”
Meanwhile, the visit scheduled for Wednesday by Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Mounir to Damascus to meet with his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, has been canceled.
The source from Salam’s office said that “the PM’s office was informed on Tuesday night that the visit had been postponed.”
It added that “this is attributed to the delayed announcement of the new Syrian government, which will lead to changes in the distribution of responsibilities, particularly the official in charge of the security file with Lebanon.”
On the ground, an Israeli drone carried out two strikes on Al-Shaara, near the eastern mountain range between Lebanon and Syria.
Israeli media outlets stated that “the Israeli Air Defense bombed two targets east of Lebanon.”
Reconnaissance planes continue to violate Lebanon’s airspace, reaching Baalbek and Bekaa.
The Israeli military started on Tuesday a field maneuver in western Galilee and the Lebanese border area, which will last until Thursday.
Israeli Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that the military exercise will include “training on different scenarios, namely protecting the area and responding to immediate threats in the field with multifaceted cooperation.”
He added that “the exercise has been planned under the 2025 annual deposition plan,” noting that “there is no fear of security incidents.”
