Aoun tells US senator southerners eager for state to exert its authority

President Joseph Aoun met Thursday in Baabda with U.S. Senator James Lankford in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.

“They discussed the latest developments regarding the situation in the South, the continuation of Israeli aggression, and the progress of the framework agreement," the Presidency said.

“Israel is continuing its acts of aggression in the southern villages and towns from which it has not yet withdrawn, thereby violating the provisions of the framework agreement signed between the two countries under U.S. sponsorship,” Aoun told Lankford.

“We are applying pressure in every direction to stop Israel from destroying homes and civilian properties in the occupied villages and towns, and to complete the return of captives,” the president added.

“The people of the South are eager for the state to exert its authority and deploy the army up to the recognized borders. The army is carrying out its assigned tasks in the South as across all of Lebanon, and it requires support through the provision of essential equipment and vehicles to execute its mission,” Aoun went on to say.