Lebanon Urges UN Security Council to Pressure Israel to Implement Ceasefire
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the UN Security Council delegation to pressure Israel to comply with the ceasefire, urging support for the Lebanese Army to complete its mission of restricting weapons in the country’s south.
The Lebanese Presidency said that President Aoun met with ambassadors and representatives of UN Security Council member states during their visit to Lebanon, where the delegation expressed its support for the country’s stability through the implementation of international resolutions, affirming the willingness of states to provide assistance to support the Lebanese Army, complete its deployment, and ensure the exclusivity of arms.
Aoun added that Lebanon needs “to push the Israeli side to implement the ceasefire and withdraw, and we look forward to pressure from your side.” He also called on the delegation to support the Lebanese Army in its missions and coordinate with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee at all levels.
The delegation continues its meetings with Lebanese officials and is scheduled to visit the border area on Saturday to assess progress in implementing the ceasefire, accompanied by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus.
President Aoun stated that the committee tasked with overseeing the ceasefire will hold new sessions with the participation of Lebanese and Israeli civilian delegates starting December 19, stressing that the aim is to protect Lebanon.
Israel had launched airstrikes on four towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday after issuing evacuation warnings, targeting what it described as Hezbollah “infrastructure,” including weapons depots, as part of efforts to prevent the group from rebuilding its military capabilities. UNIFIL confirmed in a statement that these strikes constitute “clear violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”
UNIFIL also reported a security incident, stating that six individuals on three motorcycles approached peacekeepers on patrol near Bint Jbeil, and one of them fired three shots at the rear of the vehicle, with no injuries reported. The mission called for “a thorough and immediate investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah, according to statements from its Secretary-General Naim Qassem, rejected the idea of handing over its weapons, threatening retaliation against Israel following the killing of its military commander Haitham al-Tabatabai and four of his aides in airstrikes on November 23 in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
