Outgoing head of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, US General Jasper Jeffers, on Wednesday toured Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Lebanese Army Commander in chief, Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, to introduce his successor, General Michael Leeney.
The meetings were in the presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.
During the talks, President Aoun stressed the need to reinvigorate the committee’s role in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. He also called for increased international pressure on Israel to withdraw from five strategic hills and to release Lebanese detainees.
The president further affirmed that the Lebanese Army is fully carrying out its duties in the south of the country, particularly south of the Litani River. He noted that the military continues to seize illegal weapons and ammunition and to dismantle visible armed presence in the area.
Discussions with Berri focused on the recent field developments in the South amid Israel’s continued violations of UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.
Berri opened the meeting by pointing to “Israel's ongoing daily violations and aggressions,” while Lebanon has fulfilled all its obligations. “Meanwhile, Israel remains noncompliant with the ceasefire and has yet to withdraw from the territories it still occupies in the South.”
Berri also stressed that “Israel’s escalation undermines Lebanon’s path to recovery, stability, reform, and sovereignty,” and called on the U.S. to pressure Israel into immediately implementing the agreement and Resolution 1701.
General Leeney affirmed that “the committee will begin holding regular meetings to monitor the situation.”
On his part, PM Salam reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to the agreement, emphasizing that the Lebanese Army continues to expand its deployment to fully assert control over Lebanese territory. He underscored the need for Israel to cease its violations and attacks across various areas and demanded Israel’s full withdrawal from all occupied lands and hills, as well as the release of Lebanese prisoners.
He added that Israel’s withdrawal is key to strengthening state authority, in parallel to Lebanon’s ongoing efforts to enhance the army’s manpower and equipment.
Later in Yarzeh, Army Commander Gen. Haikal reviewed with the American generals the developments in the South and progress in implementing the ceasefire agreement.
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