Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory hinders army deployment in south, president warns

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun warned Monday that Israel’s ongoing occupation of territory in the south prevents the army deployment in the area, Anadolu reports. “Israel must be pressured to withdraw from the areas it occupies in Lebanon,” Aoun said during a video call with American Task Force on Lebanon, as cited by a presidency statement.

The Lebanese army and security forces “are the cornerstone of stability and security” in southern Lebanon and “are essential to enabling residents to return to their towns and homes,” he stressed. “There is no place for civil war in Lebanon, and its return is not on the table, despite attempts by some parties to rekindle sectarian strife,” Aoun said.

Negotiation “is the only option left […]