Joseph Aoun Launches a 5-Point Security Initiative Regarding the Future of Southern Lebanon

SadaNews - The President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, launched a political-security initiative from the south that is considered the clearest in years regarding the future of the southern borders and the role of the state in asserting its sovereignty. The initiative, which came at a critical regional moment, presented a clear work plan that emphasizes the state's and the army's readiness to take over the occupied points, and proposes a negotiation framework under international sponsorship to reach a definitive halt to Israeli aggressions. Full readiness of the army and preparedness to take over the border points President Aoun confirmed that the Lebanese army is ready to take over all the occupied points along the southern border, noting that the state will immediately submit to the quintet committee a clear timeline outlining the stages and mechanism of the handover, once violations cease and the Israeli army withdraws. One of the key elements of the initiative is assigning the quintet committee to ensure that only Lebanese armed forces exercise authority south of the Litani River, which constitutes a clear commitment to re-establishing the exclusive role of the state in managing security along the borders. Openness to negotiations under international sponsorship The President emphasized that Lebanon is ready to engage in negotiations under United Nations, American, or joint international sponsorship, aiming to reach a final agreement to halt cross-border aggressions and to end the ongoing state of conflict. International support and reconstruction alongside asserting sovereignty The initiative includes a clear invitation to brotherly and friendly countries to set dates for a comprehensive international mechanism to support the army and assist Lebanon in reconstructing the damaged infrastructure. This comes in the context of a larger national goal: to contain all weapons outside the state across all Lebanese territory. An initiative that outlines the features of a new phase President Joseph Aoun's address introduces Lebanon into a new phase of security and political approach to the southern borders, by offering a clear vision that reinstates the importance of state institutions and opens the door for a lasting settlement that ensures stability and sovereignty.