Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his country’s full commitment to the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, as well as the issue of monopolizing weapons by the state. This was stated in a Lebanese presidency statement following Aoun’s meeting with a US delegation including Washington’s envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham, and Representative John Wilson. The delegation arrived in Beirut on Monday evening to discuss the government’s decision to monopolize weapons and the Israeli withdrawal from five points occupied during the recent war. The meeting also covered the situation in Lebanon and the region. President Aoun thanked the US administration for its continued interest in Lebanon and its support for the Lebanese army. He called on Washington to continue communications with all concerned parties, especially friendly Arab and Western countries, to support reconstruction and economic recovery.

Aoun expressed satisfaction with the Syrian readiness to establish better relations with Lebanon and confirmed Lebanon’s readiness to immediately address bilateral issues in a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation. He emphasized Lebanon’s full support for the unity and territorial integrity of Syria. Earlier, Thomas Barrack stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has no interest in hostile relations with Lebanon but seeks cooperation. Aoun also renewed Lebanon’s full commitment to the ceasefire agreement despite Israel’s repeated violations. Israel launched an aggression on Lebanon on October 8, 2023, escalating into a wide war on September 23, 2024, resulting in over 4,000 deaths and about 17,000 injuries. The ceasefire agreement started on November 27, 2024, but Israel has violated it over 3,000 times, causing 282 deaths and 604 injuries. Lebanon also reaffirmed its commitment to the US-Lebanese joint declaration approved by the cabinet without any omissions.

On June 19, Thomas Barrack presented a proposal to the Lebanese government including disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons by the state in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from five southern border points and releasing funds for reconstruction. The Lebanese government amended the proposal before approving it on August 5, including the goal of monopolizing weapons by the state, which sparked disagreement with Hezbollah refusing to disarm before Israeli withdrawal.