The Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Mitri, responded to what was reported by the “Axios” website, yesterday, Tuesday, from American and Israeli officials as saying that there is an unannounced understanding between Tel Aviv, Washington and Beirut “provided that the presence of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon continues for several weeks or months, until the situation stabilizes thanks to the Lebanese army, and it is ensured that Hezbollah is no longer a threat.
He denied in statements to “Al Arabiya.net/Al -Hadath.net” today, Wednesday, the information circulated in “Axius”, saying: “The Americans did not communicate with us in this regard, and Lebanon did not participate in any such agreement.”
He also stressed Lebanon’s official position of the necessity of the Israeli withdrawal on “the five points that it still occupies in the south,” explaining that “we have no choice but to diplomatic pressure in order to complete the withdrawal.”
“Not serious”
While it was revealed to “not seriously” from the American side to pressure Israel in order to withdraw from these five points.
He said: “If Washington pressed enough on Tel Aviv, it would not have been kept on the five points.
He also pointed out that Lebanon did not obtain assurances or guarantees from Americans regarding the full withdrawal of the Israelis from the remaining five points, not the first time to extend the agreement, not even the second time.
Committed to implementing Resolution 1701
He also went on to say: “We are in constant contact with the ceasefire monitoring committee, and there is a meeting between it and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday in order to discuss the situation in the south and the Israeli occupation of the five points.”
He believed that keeping Israel on its presence in the five points aimed at “pressure” on Lebanon and “not for military purposes.”
While he stressed that Lebanon is committed to implementing Resolution 1701 completely, and “we were fully applied in the south of Litani.”
To that he denied what is being circulated about linking the reconstruction “disarmament of Hezbollah”, adding: “When the international community touches that we are” serious “by implementing international decisions for Lebanon, the situation will gradually improve.”
Ceasefire
It is noteworthy that the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, which entered the implementation on November 27, 2024, stipulated that the Israeli forces withdraw completely from southern Lebanon within a period of 60 days, but it did not abide by that and demanded the extension of its survival in the south until February 18.
The Lebanese authorities agreed to the second extension, provided that the Lebanese prisoners were released to Israel, who are known 7, and to withdraw completely.
On February 18, Israel withdrew its forces from a number of border towns under the ceasefire agreement except for 5 strategic locations, which are the hill of Hammas, the hill of the Prophet Awaida, Jabal Balat, Al -Balbon, and Al -Azza, which overlooks a number of Israeli settlements.
