Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during a reception for European Union and Western ambassadors at the Presidential Palace in Beirut, stated that his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington was productive. Aoun said that the meeting addressed the implementation of the framework formula signed between Lebanon and Israel under US mediation, the completion of Israel's withdrawal, and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the vacated areas.
The President 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 way to achieve peace and stability in southern Lebanon, and stressed that his country is committed to the agreement, particularly its security and reconstruction provisions.
UNIFIL's future and alternative force
Aoun stated that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is the best option for the coming period, and called for the creation of an alternative force if UNIFIL cannot continue. He said this alternative force should support the Lebanese army in clearing the southern regions of mines and unexploded ordnance and in accompanying the implementation of the framework formula.
Obstacle to economic reforms
Aoun noted that ending the war will pave the way for focusing on economic, financial, banking, and judicial files, and stressed that security and political stability are fundamental prerequisites for the success of any economic process. The Lebanese President reiterated his commitment to continuing reforms, especially economic reforms, stating that they are 'an internal Lebanese necessity'.
Aoun said that the war has delayed some steps, but the state continues to work to restore confidence in the banking sector and ensure fiscal discipline. He said Lebanon's stability reflects on the region's stability, and called for continued European support, especially in the areas of judicial reform and anti-corruption.
EU message of support
EU Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele said 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, and highlighted the importance of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restore investor confidence.
Coordination with Prime Minister and situation in the south
President Aoun also discussed the results of his US visit with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Aoun briefed Salam on his meetings with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and on the readiness of US officials to support the Lebanese army and assist Lebanon in various fields. The statement noted that Washington presented its commitment to implementing the framework formula, while Lebanon insisted on Israel's full withdrawal from the southern villages and towns up to the border.
Prime Minister Salam also shared the results of his visit to the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh following Israel's withdrawal. He stressed the state's determination to meet the needs of the southern residents to enable them to 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 announced on Monday that the pilot zone 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. The agreement envisages Israel's gradual withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, starting with the implementation of a model in the pilot areas, and the Lebanese army assuming security responsibility in the vacated areas.
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 occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the 2023-2024 conflicts, and in the current wave of attacks has penetrated more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
