Aoun meets UNIFIL Commander, UN's Plasschaert
10/16/2025 7:55:31 PM
President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, informed UNIFIL Force Commander General Diodato Abagnara, during his reception this morning at Baabda Palace, that "the number of army personnel present south of the Litani will gradually increase to reach about 10,000 soldiers by the end of the year, to ensure security and stability along the southern border after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupy. The Lebanese army will work with UNIFIL to implement UN Resolution 1701 in all its provisions, in addition to taking over all UNIFIL posts when they begin their gradual withdrawal from the south until the end of 2027."
President Aoun reiterated "the importance of cooperation and coordination between the army and UNIFIL in the military, humanitarian, and service fields."
General Abganara briefed President Aoun on the current situation in the south in light of recent developments and outlined the measures to be adopted to regulate UNIFIL's operations following the UN's reduction of peacekeeping mission budgets worldwide.
Abganara also briefed President Aoun on the measures the command intends to adopt during the withdrawal of international peacekeeping forces from the south, beginning in early 2027 and continuing until the end of the year.
General Abganara stressed that UNIFIL will continue to support and coordinate with the Lebanese Army in the various missions it undertakes in the south, and that the gradual reduction of its forces will not affect the tasks assigned to it in cooperation with the Army.
In the same context, President Aoun received the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, with the discussion touching on the general situation and the work of UN organizations in Lebanon.
President Aoun reiterated "the importance of cooperation and coordination between the army and UNIFIL in the military, humanitarian, and service fields."
General Abganara briefed President Aoun on the current situation in the south in light of recent developments and outlined the measures to be adopted to regulate UNIFIL's operations following the UN's reduction of peacekeeping mission budgets worldwide.
Abganara also briefed President Aoun on the measures the command intends to adopt during the withdrawal of international peacekeeping forces from the south, beginning in early 2027 and continuing until the end of the year.
General Abganara stressed that UNIFIL will continue to support and coordinate with the Lebanese Army in the various missions it undertakes in the south, and that the gradual reduction of its forces will not affect the tasks assigned to it in cooperation with the Army.
In the same context, President Aoun received the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, with the discussion touching on the general situation and the work of UN organizations in Lebanon.