Lebanese president demands stronger role from Lebanon-Israel ceasefire committee

BEIRUT / ANKARA

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on Wednesday to revitalize the role of the ceasefire oversight committee to pressure Israel to withdraw from five outposts in southern Lebanon.

This came during a meeting between Aoun and US Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the outgoing chairman of the ceasefire committee, and his successor, Gen. Michael Linney.

Aoun underlined the need for a more active role by the committee to pressure Israel to end its assaults on Lebanon, withdraw from five border hilltops, and release detained Lebanese nationals, the presidency said in a statement.

He said the Lebanese army is fulfilling its duties and responsibilities in southern Lebanon, especially in the areas south of the Litani River, where it actively confiscates weapons and ammunition, and removes all forms of armed presence.

The five-nation oversight committee comprises the US, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 194 victims and injuries to 485 others.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.