On Saturday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed the administration’s steadfast position and demanded that Israeli soldiers immediately leave the southern areas they still control. His comments were made at a high-profile meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Beirut. Guterres is presently in Lebanon as part of a solidarity trip to the country.
President Aoun emphasized that Israel’s continued violations of the November 27 ceasefire agreement—both on the ground and in the air—are unacceptable and constitute a blatant disregard for Lebanon’s sovereignty. Speaking candidly about the current situation, the president highlighted the destruction of homes and entire villages along the southern border, underscoring the human and territorial cost of Israel’s actions.
“The Israeli breaches, including the bombing of homes and the destruction of border villages, are a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and continue to undermine Lebanese sovereignty,” President Aoun said. “Such actions are inconsistent with international efforts to achieve peace and security in the region.”
The November 27 ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United Nations, set a clear timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Nevertheless, the Lebanese authorities claim that real achievements have been made here, with Israel, according to them, actively engaged in military actions in violation of the reached agreements. The Lebanese government has reported that over the past few weeks, the number of aerial violations and pinpointed attacks escalating, dozens of families in border areas have been forced to flee.
The Lebanese politics remain highly polarized and, after a 2-year absence of a directly elected president due to political divisions, President Michel Aoun, who was sworn in on the January 9, has committed to start with improving the stability of the entire country and protect its integrity of its territory. His statements on Saturday reiterated his government’s stand in support of Lebanese sovereignty asserting at the same time the readiness of his administration for international cooperation in the question of implementation of ceasefire.
When arriving in Lebanon on Thursday for a visit, which was referred to as a ‘solidarity visit’ by UN, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a restraint in the region while committed to supporting Lebanon. In the meeting Guterres appealed to all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement which he said will be a decisive achievement on the way to achieving sustainable peace.
“Lebanon has endured immense challenges, and the international community stands with its people,” Guterres said, adding that the UN will continue to monitor the situation closely. He also commended Lebanon for its resilience in the face of economic and political instability, which have compounded the country’s challenges in recent years.
The president’s statements are made at an unprecedentedly high level of regional insecurity, with a majority in Lebanon distressed at the potential spillover effects of major geopolitical conflicts. The situation is still precarious for residents in the south already facing the brunt of repeated conflicts. Displaced families are still demanding immediate line of action at the international level to allow their safe repatriation and rebuilding of their homes.
While Lebanon is facing this complex situation, the administration of President Aoun has urged unity among the Lebanese people and renewed focus to diplomacy to deal with outstanding issues. “We must remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of our nation’s sovereignty, the president concluded.
Observers report that the next few weeks will be a critical period for deciding whether the ceasefire agreement will be implemented and whether Israel will take up its commitments to withdraw. For Lebanon, the high stakes continue to loom, in the context of a binary pressure between the burden imposed by the neighboring conflict and that of the internal issues.
