Beirut: Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East for the United States, held meetings with senior Lebanese officials, led by President Joseph Aoun, to discuss the situation in southern Lebanon and related issues.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Ortagus's visit to Lebanon comes amid ongoing debate over Hezbollah's disarmament, as Israeli airstrikes continue in the south and east of the country despite the ceasefire signed on November 27. A statement from the presidency noted that Ortagus's meeting with Aoun in Baabda addressed the south, the work of the international monitoring committee, and Israeli withdrawal.
Ortagus also met with Nawaf Salam, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, to discuss developments in the south and along the Syrian border, focusing on border control and anti-smuggling efforts. They emphasized army measures to implement United Nations Resolution 1701, which calls for state authority and the restriction of arms to the army, along with the completion of the Israeli withdrawal.
The US and France co-chair the committee overseeing the agreement, alongside the UN, Lebanon, and Israel. Under the agreement, Israel was to withdraw by January 26 but extended the deadline to February 18 following US mediation. Lebanon described the retention of five strategic points by Israel as 'occupation,' urging international pressure to complete the withdrawal.
Ortagus announced the formation of three diplomatic working groups to address the border dispute, the release of detained Lebanese nationals, and the resolution of the five contested points. Additionally, she discussed financial reforms and anti-corruption measures with Aoun, aligning with a pledge by Karim Saeed, the new Central Bank Governor, to combat money laundering. Her talks with Salam covered reforms and the need for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund amid the economic crisis ongoing since 2019, which requires reforms to secure international support.