Aoun Discusses with US Delegation Israel's Non-Compliance with the 'Framework Agreement'

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban: President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun, during his reception of former US Ambassador to Lebanon Ryan Crocker and a delegation from the American Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), including the network’s CEO Jeffrey Gaidman and Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi, at Baabda Palace, outlined Lebanon’s stance on local and regional developments, particularly the situation in the south and the implementation of the Framework Agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship, noting Israel’s failure to comply with its provisions. President Aoun also discussed with Minister of National Defense Major General Michel Mounse the country’s security situation, especially in the south, in light of ongoing Israeli aggression, and the discussion touched upon the condition of the military institution and its needs.

President Aoun received Jordanian Minister of Tourism Imad Al-Hijazin at the Baabda Presidential Palace, where the minister affirmed the “strong bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.” President Aoun commended “the role played by King Abdullah II of Jordan in assisting Lebanon and supporting its positions in Arab, regional, and international forums, as well as the aid Jordan has provided and continues to provide to the Lebanese Army and in social and humanitarian fields.”

During his reception at Baabda Palace, President Aoun met with Beth Beckdole, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). He stressed the need to give special priority to affected areas, particularly the south, and to support farmers whose lands were damaged or who were unable to access them to harvest their crops. Emphasizing the importance of introducing modern technology, innovation, and science into the agricultural sector to boost productivity, improve resource efficiency and product quality, and enhance food security, the President of the Republic stressed the “importance of shifting from identifying needs to preparing practical, financeable, and executable projects.”

For her part, Beckdole affirmed the FAO’s commitment to continuing support for Lebanon and working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, outlining the programs and projects implemented by the organization in Lebanon.

On the domestic front, the government faces sustained street pressure. Maroun Khoury, President of the General Federation of Lebanese Workers’ Unions, stated in a press release: “We are facing a real opportunity for the government to pull the fuse of social explosion before it turns into a political and security explosion,” warning that “the government faces a clear choice: either pull the fuse of explosion by removing taxes and fees on fuels and opening a serious channel to correct its tax and social policies, or bear responsibility for what may result from continued pressure on people and the economy.”

In the south, the situation is explosive for the Israeli army, which carried out several large explosions in the town of Mansouriya in the Sidon district, causing strong tremors and loud booms heard in the city of Sidon and surrounding villages. The National News Agency reported that occupation forces deliberately booby-trapped several houses in the town and detonated them, while the Israeli air force conducted a raid on the area near the Scout City at the eastern outskirts of Zouitar, in addition to low-altitude drone flights over the Zahrani area.