Aoun: The time has come to end the war definitively; if UNIFIL cannot remain, the alternative is to establish a force to replace it

Beirut — Mansour Shaaban:

Residents of western Zour returned to their homes with the support of the Lebanese Army, amidst security and organizational measures, without settling in the town, after waiting for four days at its entrance. This delay was due to the Army’s Engineering Corps clearing suspicious obstacles, unexploded ordnance, and landmines.

Concurrently, a meeting was held between President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam, during which they reviewed the general situation. President Aoun briefed Prime Minister Salam on the outcomes of his visit to the United States and his meetings with President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He highlighted the US officials’ readiness to support the Lebanese Army and assist Lebanon in all fields, as well as the United States’ commitment to implementing the “Framework Formula” agreed upon during Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington. This commitment aligns with the Lebanese position, which emphasized the necessity of completing the Israeli withdrawal up to the southern border.

For his part, Prime Minister Salam informed President Aoun about his visit to western Zour, clarifying his assurance that “we are with our people in the South, and the state is determined to secure their needs to consolidate their presence on their land and livelihoods.” The discussion also covered Prime Minister Salam’s planned visit to Iraq on Sunday to meet his Iraqi counterpart, Ali al-Zaidi.

Upon receiving the European Union Ambassador Sandra da Wailey and several other ambassadors and chargés d’affaires, President Aoun stressed that the continued presence of UN forces in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) is the optimal means for the coming phase, adding, “If that is not possible, an alternative force should be established to replace them.” He called on the European Union to support the implementation of the “Framework Formula,” emphasizing that Lebanon’s stability reflects on the stability of the region’s countries, according to the Lebanese Presidency.

The President of the Republic stated, “My meeting with President Trump was fruitful, and the time has come to end the war definitively.”

The European Ambassador, for her part, affirmed that “Lebanon stands at a crossroads and the beginning of a new chapter, and we support it in its path toward security, stability, and reforms.”

President Aoun also held another meeting with the Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and worldwide, Patriarch Paul III Nadra, on the occasion of his first visit to Lebanon since his election as patriarch. President Aoun affirmed “the support of the Chaldean community members for the efforts made by the President of the Republic to ensure Lebanon’s stability, security, and the protection of its interests and the rights of its people,” stating, “Lebanon is our strategic depth, and its stability is the stability of all countries in the region and all its people.”

President Aoun reaffirmed “the existing cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq,” praising “the assistance provided by the Iraqi government to Lebanon, especially during the difficult circumstances it endured due to the Israeli war.”

President Aoun was briefed by Minister of National Defense Major General Michel Mansour on measures to enhance the Army’s deployment in several southern towns and villages, as well as the military institution’s needs. He also discussed security conditions in various areas with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Brigadier General Ahmad al-Hajar.

President Aoun’s visit to the United States was a focal point for Friday preachers, with differing assessments regarding the realistic approaches he presented. Lebanese people are placing hopes that this visit will contribute to strengthening Lebanon’s presence on the international stage, reclaiming the remaining occupied land, and rallying support for its stability and institutions, according to Mufti of Baalbek-Hermel Sheikh Bakr al-Rifai. He addressed the “General Amnesty Law,” stating that “there is an increasing need for a unified position among Sunni MPs regarding the general amnesty issue. We also call on parliamentary blocs, partners in the nation, to support this requirement. At the same time, we emphasize that no one has the right to trade just causes or exploit them for organizational or political interests; it is a national responsibility requiring honesty, impartiality, and joint action.”

Regarding Prime Minister Salam’s visit to western Zour, Friday preachers met while demanding the fulfillment of promises to return residents and calling for the deployment and reinforcement of the Army. Imam of Al-Safa Mosque and Mufti Sheikh Hassan Sharifa viewed this as “a step in the right direction,” affirming “his support for every initiative that contributes to protecting borders, enhancing the resilience of the people in the South, reducing tensions, and cooling internal atmospheres.”

Economically, the Consumer Association’s price index for the first half of 2026 (the first and second quarters) recorded a sharp increase of 19.05%, covering 140 essential goods and services that no household in Lebanon can do without.

The Association considered that “the absence of authority exacerbates risks, as the figures reveal that the apparent stability of the Lebanese Lira’s exchange rate did not protect the cost of living. Global price increases were not accompanied by any government or monetary plan to assist citizens.”