President Joseph Aoun (left) with the Lebanese civilian negotiator within the mechanism, former ambassador Simon Karam, at Baabda Presidential Palace, Dec. 17, 2025. (Credit: X/@LBpresidency)
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun met Wednesday morning with Lebanon’s civilian representative to the cease-fire “mechanism,” former ambassador Simon Karam, at Baabda Presidential Palace and gave him instructions ahead of a supervision committee meeting scheduled for Friday, the presidency said.
The meeting focused on setting a road map to prevent an Israeli escalation in Lebanon.
Aoun also met with Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who dismissed reports about appointing additional ambassadors to the mechanism. “Talk of naming anyone other than Simon Karam is pure media rumor. No request has been made to add any other names,” he said, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
He added that the president’s work with the mechanism, through Karam, was “reassuring, smooth and more than satisfactory.” Bou Saab said he hoped the holiday period would pass calmly, followed by steps to secure greater stability.
The cease-fire supervision committee was formed after the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel ended with a cease-fire in November 2024.
The committee, chaired by a U.S. general, was initially made up of military officials only. In early December, Aoun appointed a civilian member, a move Israel later mirrored, altering the committee’s role.
Lebanon has repeatedly said it is ready to engage to end instability in the South, where Israeli forces still occupy five positions, despite the agreement calling for a full withdrawal. Israel continues daily attacks inside Lebanon, claiming they are meant to “prevent Hezbollah from restoring its military capabilities.”
France is preparing to present a proposal for the next phase of the mechanism, including the creation of a military commission to verify and document the Lebanese Army’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
