Lebanon president tells US commander he will exert sovereignty over all country’s territory

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun met US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper and told him that Beirut plans to assert sovereignty over all of Lebanon’s territory, including deploying the Lebanese army right up to the Israeli border.

The meeting discussed implementing a Washington-brokered agreement signed last week by Israel and Lebanon aimed at laying groundwork for a peace deal. Cooper also met the Lebanese army chief, Rodolphe Haykal, with talks focused on carrying out the security provisions in the framework agreement and strengthening future cooperation.

A central element of the US-brokered framework is Lebanon restoring sovereignty by handling the “verified disarmament” of non-state armed groups, with responsibility placed on the Lebanese army. Israeli leaders have said their forces would remain in the south until the process is completed.

Hezbollah opposes the agreement, with its leaders warning it could spark conflict inside Lebanon if imposed. The group also has said it reserves the right to self-defence after alleged Israeli attacks, and Lebanese authorities have said Israeli strikes since the conflict began in March have killed more than 4,200 people.