Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the announcement made by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni regarding the pursuit of forming an international alliance for a post-UNIFIL mechanism in southern Lebanon.
President Aoun saw this initiative as a "genuine expression of international commitment to support Lebanon's sovereignty and stability and a real appreciation for the role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining security and asserting state authority across its entire territory, particularly in the southern border regions."
President Aoun expressed his appreciation for the Franco-Italian joint emphasis on the necessity of avoiding any dangerous vacuum in the post-UNIFIL phase, as this aligns with Lebanon's steadfast vision that the Lebanese Army is the sole, true guarantor of southern security and sovereignty.
The President affirmed that Lebanon looks forward to any international formula that enhances its armed forces' capabilities and upholds its territorial integrity, preventing its land from becoming a platform for escalation or regional tensions. He reiterated Lebanon's openness to coordinating with international partners in ways that serve the Lebanese people's interests and reinforce stability in the region.