BEIRUT, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday that he is working to keep Lebanon out of regional conflicts, citing what he called unprecedented steps by his government to assert state authority and preserve stability.
Speaking to diplomats, Aoun said the state must extend its authority across all Lebanese territory through official security institutions, according to the National News Agency.
He said the government adopted a plan last year to restrict weapons and expand state control, adding that no shots were fired from Lebanese territory during his first year in office, apart from two isolated incidents whose perpetrators were quickly arrested.
Aoun said the Lebanese army now exercises effective control south of the Litani River and has removed large quantities of illegal weapons, calling it the most significant achievement in four decades.
The measures were implemented under a Nov. 27, 2024, agreement aimed at protecting Lebanon's sovereignty and preventing escalation along the southern border, he said.
The 2024 agreement helped maintain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese political party and militant group that operates independently of the government.
Despite the truce, Israel has carried out near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, saying they targeted threats from Hezbollah. Lebanon's government and the international community have accused Israel of violating the agreement.
The current Lebanese government was formed after Hezbollah lost significant influence following Israel's killing of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024, along with several other senior officials. The government has since called for Hezbollah's disarmament, a move the group has rejected, saying it would serve Israel's interests. ■
