Lebanese President Discusses with His French Counterpart Developments in the Situation and the Post-UNIFIL Phase

Beirut, July 26 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday the general situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments. The office of the Lebanese presidency said in a statement that President Aoun briefed his French counterpart during a telephone call on the results of his recent visit to the United States and the talks he held with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior American officials, which covered the post-(Framework Agreement) phase with the Israeli occupation and the implementation of its provisions. The statement added that the discussions addressed the ground situation in southern Lebanon amid continued attacks by occupation forces on several southern villages and towns, and the need to put an end to these attacks and fully commit to a cessation of hostilities. It clarified that the two presidents also discussed the phase following the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the end of this year, and the importance of international follow-up to stabilize the situation in southern Lebanon, noting their agreement to maintain ongoing communication to monitor developments. For his part, the Lebanese Army earlier today stressed that the continued attacks by occupation forces and their daily violations of existing understandings and international laws hinder the completion of the army’s deployment, prevent the return of residents to their villages and towns, and impede the establishment of stability in the south. These talks follow the (Framework Agreement) signed last month between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation under U.S. sponsorship to end military confrontations. The (Special Coordination Mechanism for Lebanon) is tasked with direct coordination between the two sides to ensure the gradual withdrawal of the occupation and the extension of Lebanese state sovereignty through the deployment of the Lebanese army in the southern areas. (End) F.Z. / M.A.A.