Ceasefire panel says army is 'the only institution for the defense and security of Lebanon'

The five-party Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism, which is tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, convened at a UNIFIL position in Ras Naqoura Monday for the third Pentalateral Meeting, a joint statement from the U.S. and French embassies in Lebanon and UNIFIL said.

Amos Hochstein, the Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States, and U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers co-chaired the meeting, joined by representatives of France, the Israeli army, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and UNIFIL, as well as the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon.

The group discussed military technical plans for the “phased withdrawal” of the Israeli army from the entire South Litani Area and deployment of LAF, “beginning in the west and progressing east,” the statement said.

“The LAF have been preparing to conduct this operation for the past month by removing over 10,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance, with UNIFIL support, that would otherwise prevent safe troop deployment,” the statement added.

It said the overall operation began Monday at 12:00 PM, when Israeli units in Naqoura initiated movement south of the Blue Line.

“The LAF is the only institution for the defense and security of Lebanon and the Mechanism is working closely with LAF leaders to support their actions,” the statement stressed.