Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the south after an Israeli withdrawal is beyond question, stressing the army will bear full responsibility for the area. The statement was reported by Or Ben Yehezkel, an Israeli Arab affairs analyst, and published on the source 301 — The Arab World.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun reiterated the centrality of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon after Israeli withdrawal, stating there is 'no doubt' about the military's role and that it will bear full responsibility for the area. The statement, reported Friday evening by analyst Or Ben Yehezkel on the Arabic-world the source 301, comes as the IDF continues to maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon amid stalled withdrawal negotiations.
Aoun's remarks represent a clear assertion of Lebanese sovereignty over the south, tying any future arrangement to an Israeli pullout. The comment follows weeks of debate within Lebanese political circles about the army's capacity to prevent Hezbollah from regaining a foothold in the region. As The Zioneer has previously reported, Aoun has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal as a precondition for any political settlement.
Several questions remain open: whether the army can enforce control absent an agreement with Hezbollah, what timeline Aoun envisions for the IDF withdrawal, and whether his statement signals any shift in the stalled talks with Israel. No details on the mechanics or timing of the army's takeover were provided in the report.
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