Lebanon’s new president stresses urgency of “Israeli” withdrawal from south

Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun, stressed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday the urgency of an “Israeli military” withdrawal as stipulated by the ceasefire deal reached in November.

According to a statement by the Lebanese presidency on X, Aoun told Guterres during a meeting in Beirut that continued “Israeli” breaches were a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and the agreed ceasefire deal.

The ceasefire, which took effect on Nov. 27, requires the Zionist forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, and for Hezbollah to remove all its fighters and weapons from the south.

Guterres said the U.N. would exert utmost efforts to secure an “Israeli withdrawal” within the set deadline under the ceasefire terms, according to the statement.

He had said on Friday the Zionist forces continued occupation of territory in south Lebanon, and the military operations conducted in Lebanese territory were violations of a U.N. resolution upon which the ceasefire is based.

Despite the deal, the “Israeli” forces have continued ignoring the accord under which they must halt attacks and withdraw beyond the Litani River, about 30 km (18 miles) from the border with “Israel”.