Aoun asks Rubio to press Israel on ceasefire, pullout, captives

President Joseph Aoun met overnight in New York with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly meetings.

A Presidency statement said Aoun asked Rubio for U.S. assistance in “asserting Israel’s commitment to the clauses of the November 27, 2024 declaration for the cessation of hostilities in south Lebanon, its withdrawal from the points it is occupying, the return of the Lebanese captives held by it, and the implementation of Resolution 1701 with all its stipulations, especially that the Lebanese side has not carried out any violation of this agreement.”

The president also asked the U.S. official to “support the Lebanese Army with equipment to enable it to perform its missions that encompass all Lebanese regions” and also to back the exerted efforts for holding a Lebanon reconstruction conference.

Rubio for his part confirmed that the U.S. support for Lebanon will continue, lauding “the efforts that were exerted by President Aoun and the Lebanese government to enable Lebanon to recover and overcome the circumstances it passed through,” the Presidency said.

Aoun also met in New York with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is a Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Shaheen “welcomed the practical steps that the Lebanese Army is performing professionally and orderly,” adding that the U.S. assistance earmarked for the army and the Internal Security Forces is aimed at helping the Lebanese armed forces carry out their responsibilities in a full manner, noting that any positive progress in Lebanon would contribute to boosting this assistance.