Aoun Urges Activation of “Mechanism” Committee to Halt Israeli Violations
10/23/2025 12:15:00 PM
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun informed the newly appointed head of the Cessation of Hostilities Oversight Committee (Mechanism), US General Joseph Clearfield, during a meeting at the Baabda Palace this morning, of the need to reactivate the committee’s work to put an end to Israel’s repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty and to uphold the agreement reached in November 2024.
The meeting was attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Keith Haningan.
President Aoun reaffirmed that Lebanon, which has fully abided by the cessation-of-hostilities agreement, pins great hopes on the committee’s efforts to restore stability in southern Lebanon and to prevent Israel’s unjustified and unacceptable attacks targeting civilians, commercial, and industrial facilities.
The president further emphasized that the Lebanese Armed Forces “are fully performing their duties south of the Litani River and expanding their deployment daily,” while urging pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories so that the army can complete its full deployment up to the international southern border.
Aoun highlighted that the army has made significant progress in “clearing” areas under its control, removing armed presence, inspecting tunnels, and seizing weapons and ammunition, despite the challenging geography of the South.
President Aoun further stressed Lebanon’s continued commitment to all security measures undertaken by the army command and expressed that any support from the oversight committee would “contribute decisively to ending the insecurity in border areas, allowing residents to once again enjoy peace and stability, something that serves the interest of all, since no one in the South or in Lebanon as a whole wishes a return to war.”
For his part, General Clearfield briefed President Aoun on the latest Mechanism Committee meeting, noting that the sessions “will now be held regularly to reinforce the cessation of hostilities in the South,” and outlined a series of steps aimed at consolidating this goal.
The meeting was attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Keith Haningan.
President Aoun reaffirmed that Lebanon, which has fully abided by the cessation-of-hostilities agreement, pins great hopes on the committee’s efforts to restore stability in southern Lebanon and to prevent Israel’s unjustified and unacceptable attacks targeting civilians, commercial, and industrial facilities.
The president further emphasized that the Lebanese Armed Forces “are fully performing their duties south of the Litani River and expanding their deployment daily,” while urging pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories so that the army can complete its full deployment up to the international southern border.
Aoun highlighted that the army has made significant progress in “clearing” areas under its control, removing armed presence, inspecting tunnels, and seizing weapons and ammunition, despite the challenging geography of the South.
President Aoun further stressed Lebanon’s continued commitment to all security measures undertaken by the army command and expressed that any support from the oversight committee would “contribute decisively to ending the insecurity in border areas, allowing residents to once again enjoy peace and stability, something that serves the interest of all, since no one in the South or in Lebanon as a whole wishes a return to war.”
For his part, General Clearfield briefed President Aoun on the latest Mechanism Committee meeting, noting that the sessions “will now be held regularly to reinforce the cessation of hostilities in the South,” and outlined a series of steps aimed at consolidating this goal.