As soon as cease-fire is in place, Lebanon will send troops south of Litani River: Mikati

BEIRUT — Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized, after meeting Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh on Monday, Lebanon's position to "implement the call issues by Western and Arab countries for a cease-fire and the beginning of discussions to implement UNSC Resolution 1701," according to local media outlets.

Resolution 1701 was reached between Israel and Lebanon in 2006 after the July war, giving explicit power to UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army on what is known as the Blue Line separating Lebanon from Israel.

Hezbollah and Israel have been fighting along the Lebanese-Israeli border since October amid the war in Gaza. A week ago, Israel started carrying out intensive airstrikes across Lebanon, killing almost a thousand people. Last week, the United States and France proposed an immediate 21-day truce but Israel immediately refused the proposal.

From Ain al-Tineh, Mikati emphasized that "as soon as a cease-fire is enforced, he is ready to send the Lebanese army south of the Litani River.”

Mikati and Berri also discussed internal issues, especially the issue of internally displaced people, as around one million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks.

"I explained to Berri about the data the government has and we are trying as much as possible to fill the existing gaps," Mikati said.

Finally, Mikati addressed the presidential vacuum that has been ongoing since October 2022.

He said that Berri assured him that "as soon as the cease-fire is put in place, the Parliament will be called to elect a consensus president, not a confrontational president."