On June 29, during a meeting with U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper, Aoun expressed a "strong commitment to extend the state's authority through the military to the southern border."
The two sides also discussed preparations for implementing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. This agreement centers on the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south.
The U.S. plan aims for Lebanese forces to take over areas vacated by the Israeli military. If the Lebanese army can secure public safety and limit Hezbollah's armed activities in the southern region, the U.S. intends to participate in reconstruction support and oversee the implementation of the agreement to facilitate the return of residents.
However, Hezbollah has stated that it will not accept any peace plan as long as Israeli forces remain on Lebanese territory. The group's leadership has characterized the agreement as a "surrender to Israel" and has expressed strong opposition.
Israel has also indicated that it will maintain its security presence in the south until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated. The deployment of Lebanese troops in the south is expected to be a critical juncture in the peace agreement, as both sides remain firm on their core conditions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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