Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has affirmed his determination to extend state authority, through its armed forces, all the way to the southern border. Aoun discussed preparations related to the start of implementing the framework agreement — reached as a result of Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington — during his reception of the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper.
Aoun stressed the Lebanese state's resolve to extend its authority through its armed forces to the international southern border, and expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his attention toward Lebanon in achieving security and stability there.
On a related front, Lebanese Army Commander Rudolf Haikal met with Cooper to discuss the mechanism for implementing the agreement. The Lebanese Army said in a statement that Haikal and Cooper discussed the importance of ensuring the successful implementation of the security annex of the framework agreement, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in the future.
Last Friday, a trilateral framework agreement between Lebanon, the United States, and Israel was signed in Washington in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The agreement stipulates the implementation of two pilot zones encompassing an Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese Army, and the disarmament of non-state armed groups.