President Joseph Aoun during video call with the American Task Force for Lebanon on July 6, 2026. (Credit: Lebanese Presidency)
President Joseph Aoun on Monday said that pressure must be applied on Israel to withdraw because the continuation of its occupation of southern Lebanon "undermines the legitimacy of the state and prevents the deployment of the army."
Aoun’s remarks came during a video call with the American Task Force for Lebanon association, during which he called for support from the group for the framework agreement reached with Israel under American sponsorship, in order to implement its provisions, "particularly regarding sovereignty and the deployment of Lebanese state authority across all territory."
Meanwhile, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel is allegedly waiting for the Lebanese Army to announce its readiness to enter the zones before proceeding, as well as for approval from U.S. Central Command, which is to coordinate between the two parties.
The framework agreement signed in late June provides, among other measures, for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two "pilot zones" in occupied southern Lebanon and their handover to the Lebanese Army. However, the agreement does not specify a timeline for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, and makes it contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament.
Aoun also noted that "he had been and remains willing to seek the assistance of the Task Force to counter voices in the United States that do not have Lebanon’s best interests at heart," without specifying who he was referring to.
According to the state-run National News Agency, Aoun emphasized the “importance of the Lebanese Army’s return along the entire border” and the importance of pressuring Israel to withdraw from the areas it occupies in Lebanon, “because the continuation of the occupation undermines the legitimacy of the state, prevents the deployment of the army, and obstructs the foundations for achieving a just and lasting peace.”
The president warned that if "Israel continues to insist on remaining in South Lebanon, the situation will not serve the objectives set by both the United States and Lebanon regarding restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and strong institutions."
He further stressed that an Israeli withdrawal is the "key to any real, tangible, and realistic progress toward peace in Lebanon and to ensuring security and stability on the southern Lebanese border."
Regarding Article 13 of the framework agreement, which stipulates that the Lebanese state would refrain from initiating proceedings against Israel before international bodies over war crimes, Aoun said that the "suspension of lawsuits ... is limited to the period of negotiations and does not amount to a full waiver of these claims."
Aoun also said in the call that "there is no place for civil war in Lebanon and that its return is not an option, despite attempts by some to stir internal divisions."
In this context, he praised the role of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who, he said, works to "promote calm and warn against the risks of strife, in addition to his support for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south." The president's comments regarding Berri's role come despite the fact that the latter criticized the framework agreement several times, noting that it risks sparking internal strife.
For their part, the members of the Task Force for Lebanon who participated in the call expressed appreciation for Aoun’s efforts and his "attempts to advance Lebanon and strengthen its security, stability, and lasting peace." They also affirmed their "readiness to use all their resources and connections in the U.S. to help achieve the President’s vision of full Lebanese sovereignty over all its territory and to strengthen the role of the army and security institutions in extending security and stability throughout the country."
