Lebanon president: Israeli withdrawal is national priority

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the return of prisoners and displaced people are national priorities for the country.

“The withdrawal [of Israeli forces], the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction are national principles that we pledge to uphold,” Aoun told reporters on September 12 during a visit to the southern city of Nabatieh, accompanied by army commander Rodolphe Haykal and the heads of Lebanon’s security agencies, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He said Lebanon was not currently engaged in new negotiations with Israel and called for Israeli troops to withdraw from the country and for prisoners and displaced people to be returned.

“There are no new negotiations with Israel at present,” he stated.

Aoun also said the Lebanese government was working to rebuild towns damaged during the conflict, describing his visit to Nabatieh as a demonstration of the authorities’ commitment to meeting their obligations to residents.

The president said the government had heard calls for assistance from communities in Nabatieh, Tyre and Arab Salim. He pledged that the authorities would make every effort to support residents and provide the assistance needed to help them withstand the continuing challenges.