Lebanon: president tells senior US official that Israeli occupation must end

Lebanese Chief of Staff Joseph Aoun swears in as the President of the Republic of Lebanon at the Parliament, after being elected by the parliament members in Beirut, Lebanon on January 9, 2025. [Houssam Shbaro – Anadolu Agency]

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun told US national security adviser Mike Waltz on Wednesday that it is necessary to end the Israeli occupation of the remaining “five points” in the south of his country and complete the implementation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Reuters has reported.

Israeli troops withdrew on Tuesday from most of south Lebanon but Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would remain temporarily in five points needed for its security. Aoun’s office said that Lebanon would consider any remaining Israeli presence on Lebanese land to be an occupation.

Israel had been due to withdraw by 26 January, but this was extended to 18 February after it accused Lebanon of failing to enforce the terms. Lebanon at the time accused Israel of delaying its withdrawal.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect in November, Israel is alleged to have violated its terms on 923 occasions, resulting in 73 deaths and 265 injuries, according to official Lebanese data cited by Anadolu Agency.

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