BEIRUT — In a meeting held on Friday, the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, briefed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Rajji, on her visit to Israel on Sunday, where she discussed the implementation of the cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

During the meeting, which focused on the latest political developments and the situation in southern Lebanon, Rajji reiterated "the need to exert pressure on Israel to fulfill its commitments under the cease-fire agreement and Resolution 1701, to withdraw fully and unconditionally from all occupied Lebanese territories, to halt its aggressions and violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and to release the Lebanese prisoners in its custody."

The U.N. Special Coordinator is expected to travel to New York soon to deliver a periodic briefing on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701.

Hennis-Plasschaert also met on Wednesday with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Defense Minister Michel Menassa.

A cease-fire agreement came into force on Nov. 27, 2024, putting an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which had been going on since Oct. 8, 2023, and intensified last September. Among other things, the agreement stipulated a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied villages in southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy in areas formerly under Hezbollah's influence. However, the Israeli army has maintained its presence in five points it considers strategic and continues its military operations which have become almost daily.