Aoun meets Defense Minister, stresses need for ongoing UK support
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun met Defense Minister Michel Menassa to review the security situation, particularly in southern Lebanon following the ceasefire announcement, as well as the needs of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Separately, Aoun received a British parliamentary delegation headed by Emily Thornberry in the presence of British Ambassador Hamish Cowell. He expressed hope for continued British support, particularly for the army, training programs and border watchtowers, and called for backing efforts to maintain an international presence in southern Lebanon after the planned withdrawal of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in 2027.
Aoun said efforts are underway to consolidate the ceasefire, secure an Israeli withdrawal, deploy the Lebanese Army, facilitate the return of residents, release detainees and launch reconstruction. He stressed that the Lebanese-American-Israeli talks in Washington remain separate from recent U.S.-Iran discussions in Switzerland.
The President also met Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj to discuss the work of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, particularly corruption-related cases and the protection of public funds.
