Joseph Aoun expresses ‘great satisfaction with the Syrian readiness to establish the best relations with Lebanon’
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday reaffirmed his country’s full commitment to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, ensuring that arms remain solely in the hands of the state.
His assertion came during a meeting with a visiting US delegation that included Washington’s envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham, and Congressman Joe Wilson.
According to a presidency statement, discussions between Aoun and the US delegation dwelt on the situation in Lebanon and the wider region.
Aoun expressed his gratitude to the US administration for “its continued interest in Lebanon and its commitment to assist in line with the directives of President Donald Trump.”
The Lebanese president also thanked the US for “its ongoing support for the Lebanese army,” calling on Washington to “continue engaging with all relevant parties, particularly friendly Arab and Western countries, to support reconstruction and economic recovery.”
During the meeting, Aoun was briefed by the US delegation on the results of their visit to Damascus. He expressed “great satisfaction with the Syrian readiness to establish the best relations with Lebanon,” the statement added.
The president confirmed Lebanon’s readiness to “immediately address outstanding bilateral issues in the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation, good neighborliness, and the historic ties between the two peoples.”
He also stressed Lebanon’s “full support for the unity and territorial integrity of Syria.”
On Aug. 5, the Lebanese government approved a plan to consolidate all weapons under state control. The government tasked the army with drafting a plan to achieve this by the end of the month and executing it before the end of 2025. Hezbollah rejected the decision, calling it a “grave sin.”
Israel launched a military offensive in Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring around 17,000.
A ceasefire was reached in November, but Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities.
Under the truce, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.
