Lebanon’s PM says country will start disarming south Litani
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on January 10th that the state will start disarming southern Lebanon, especially the south Litani region, to set up its presence in the country, Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters reported on January 10th.
Mikati said: “We are in a new phase – in this new phase, we will start with south Lebanon and south Litani specifically in order to pull weapons so that the state can be present across Lebanese territory.”
Mikati’s comments came after a meeting with president Joseph Aoun at the Babda Presidential Palace. Aoun was elected as the country’s new president by parliament on January 9th, ending a presidency vacancy of more than two years.
In Aoun’s address to parliament, he pledged to control weapons outside the state’s control, and said that the government is the sole entity which is permitted to have and use military force and weapons.
READ: Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, says US envoy
A ceasefire agreement which ended the 13-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in November has granted the Lebanese party 60 days to end its military presence in the south of Lebanon, while Israeli forces are also required to step away from the area during the same timeframe.
The ceasefire agreement says Israeli forces will relocate to the south of the Blue Line “in a phased manner” within 60 days. The Lebanese army’s troops will move “in parallel” to the positions.
Aoun, who turned 61 on January 1oth said that he will ensure the Lebanese state has the “exclusive right to carry arms,” The Arab Weekly via Reuters reported on January 10th.
The Israeli military said it will completely withdraw from southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the US envoy Amos Hochstein on January 6th, Al Jazeera reported via Reuters.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Reuters, Al Jazeera
