Lebanese Army Chief Seeks Security Pact with Israel as Peace Prelude

Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun stated in a press interview that Beirut is pursuing a security agreement with Israel to end the state of "hostility" between the two countries, emphasizing that direct negotiations are the only option to prevent further conflict. Aoun explained that the primary goal of the security agreement is to cease hostilities and facilitate the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border, potentially serving as a precursor to a future peace accord. He stressed that this would be a step-by-step process, with the initial phase involving an Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese army deployment, and the return of displaced residents and prisoners.

Aoun also affirmed the government's commitment to consolidating arms under state authority, referring to the disarmament of Hezbollah, but insisted on achieving this without internal strife. He clarified that the objective is to build a state and establish state control over weapons, not to incite internal conflict or civil war. He highlighted the necessity of support from Arab nations, European countries, and the United States for the Lebanese army to effectively carry out its responsibilities, particularly in southern Lebanon.

Furthermore, Aoun indicated Lebanon's openness to any force that might replace the United Nations Interim Force in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), provided it operates within a legal framework that upholds Lebanese sovereignty. He stressed that any incoming force should assist the Lebanese army and strengthen the state, rather than supplanting it, to avoid a power vacuum.

Aoun is scheduled to travel to Paris to attend a conference on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan, aimed at garnering international support for the Lebanese army, which has faced shortages in equipment and personnel despite years of international promises.

Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in US-brokered direct negotiations since a renewed conflict on March 2nd. An framework agreement signed on June 26th included provisions for Hezbollah's disarmament, gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanese territories, and the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated "experimental" areas. Israel currently occupies significant areas in southern Lebanon, maintaining a "security zone" extending ten kilometers along the border and conducting ongoing military operations. Hezbollah, however, rejects disarmament and direct negotiations with Israel.