Wednesday, 24/06/2026   
   Beirut 13:37

Aoun Says Efforts Aim to Consolidate Ceasefire in Southern Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in an image from January 2025.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that active efforts aim to “consolidate the ceasefire in the south.

He made the remarks as he met with a British parliamentary delegation. Aoun urged UK support for “maintaining an international presence in southern Lebanon following the scheduled UNIFIL withdrawal in early 2027,” Lebanese Presidency announced.

The Lebanese president stated that active efforts aim to “consolidate the ceasefire in the south” to trigger the withdrawal of Israeli forces, deploy the Lebanese army, return displaced residents, release prisoners, and launch reconstruction.

He noted that defining designated “model areas” remains under active discussion pending “approval from Israel.”

Meanwhile, Aoun said the ongoing direct negotiations with ‘Israel’ in Washington are strictly separated from last week’s Switzerland meetings between the United States and Iran monitored by Qatar and Pakistan.

Source: Lebanese Presidency (translated and edited by Al-Manar)