Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and MPs held talks with the "American Task Force" delegation on developments and the future of UNIFIL: Support for the army remains the foundation of any sustainable solution

Beirut: Speaker of the Parliament Elias Bou Saab, along with several parliamentary committee chairs, received a delegation from the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), led by former Ambassador Edward Gabriel. A broad meeting was held between the delegation, Bou Saab, and the committee chairs, dedicated to discussing Lebanon’s political, security, and economic developments, particularly the situation in the south, the future role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the implementation of Resolution 1701, support for the Lebanese Army, as well as the path of economic and financial reforms and relations with the International Monetary Fund.

Bou Saab clarified that “objecting to UNIFIL’s performance does not necessarily mean rejecting its presence or calling for its abolition; rather, a large portion of critics demand a mechanism with higher authority and more effective powers to enable it to carry out its mission genuinely and ensure the implementation of commitments on the ground.”

He emphasized that “the most prominent development at the domestic level is the widespread trend toward placing weapons and security authority in the hands of the Lebanese state and the Lebanese Army,” stressing that “continuous strengthening and support of the army remains the foundation of any sustainable solution.”

Regarding the situation in the south, he considered that “what is happening can no longer be reduced solely to the issue of Hezbollah, given the destruction of villages, lands, and trees, civilian casualties, and the continuation of Israeli operations in the region.” He expressed concern that “the continuation of these attacks, amid weak international response, undermines the chances of reaching any serious agreement.”

He stressed “the importance of the United States and the international community playing a more effective role in supporting negotiations and exerting pressure toward an implementable settlement, with a mechanism to verify the implementation of commitments by all parties, especially the Israeli side,” urging the delegation to “unite and exert pressure toward this goal.”

Speaking on Resolution 1701, he pointed to “the large number of Israeli violations,” noting that “any commitment to any resolution must be complete from all parties.”

He addressed the regional dimension of the crisis, stating that “Lebanon cannot be entirely separated from the ongoing conflicts in the region, and that the end of regional confrontations or a reduction in their intensity would place it in a better position and help it regain stability.”

He expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future because “it has the capacity to rise again when security and stability are achieved,” calling on the ATFL delegation to “encourage investment in Lebanon and take advantage of the opportunities currently available,” considering that “the current phase, despite its difficulties, may offer important investment opportunities for those who view Lebanon in the long term.”