Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for an end to Israel's occupation of Lebanese territory following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Aoun said the time has come to end the war completely.
According to a statement from the presidency, Aoun spoke during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Beirut with the European Union's Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele and other Western diplomats. The statement said the meeting addressed the implementation of the framework formula signed between Lebanon and Israel under US mediation, the completion of the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the vacated areas.
Call for international support
The Lebanese leader called on the European Union and the international community to support the implementation of the framework formula and prevent its obstruction. Aoun stated that this is the only path to peace and stability in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that his country is committed to the security and reconstruction provisions of the agreement.
Aoun stated that the continuation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is the best option, and if this force cannot continue its mission, he called for the creation of an alternative force to support the Lebanese army in mine clearance and accompanying the implementation of the formula.
Economic reforms and regional stability
President Aoun noted that the end of the war would pave the way for focusing on economic, financial, and judicial reforms, saying that security and political stability are the basic prerequisites for any economic process. Reiterating his commitment to continuing reforms, especially economic ones, Aoun stated that these are an internal Lebanese necessity.
Aoun said that Lebanon's stability reflects on the stability of the region, and he called for continued European support in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption.
EU message of support for Lebanon
EU Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele said that Lebanon is at a crossroads and at the beginning of a new chapter. De Waele confirmed the union's support for the security, stability, and reform process, while drawing attention to the importance of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for investor confidence.
Developments in the south and the return of residents
President Aoun shared the results of his US visit during a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Aoun briefed Salam on the meetings with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and on the US preparations to support the Lebanese army and provide assistance in various fields.
Prime Minister Salam also provided information about the results of his visit to the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh following the Israeli withdrawal. He emphasized the state's determination to meet the needs of the southern residents to ensure they remain on their land and sustain their livelihoods.
After engineering teams from the Lebanese army cleared suspicious obstacles, unexploded bombs, and mines left by the Israeli army, residents of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh began returning to their town. This town south of the Litani River is one of the pilot areas under the first phase of the agreement signed on June 26.
The US State Department had announced on Monday that the pilot area implementation had begun in the towns of Frun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under the auspices of the Lebanon Special Military Coordination Group, in accordance with the tripartite framework.
Israel has continued its attacks on Lebanon since March 2, 2026. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 4,329 people have been killed and 12,233 injured in these attacks. Israel has occupied some areas in southern Lebanon for decades, and others since the 2023-2024 conflict, and in the current wave of attacks it has advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
