Aoun contacts US over escalation, Washington reportedly promises to follow up

President Joseph Aoun spent all of Sunday holding contacts with officials in Washington to follow up on the situation on the ground in the south and to curb military escalation, a media report said on Monday.

"The Americans promised to follow up on the matter," the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.

The daily added that a meeting may take place today in Baabda between President Joseph Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, possibly joined by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

If the meeting does take place, it will focus on the military developments on the ground, the negotiations with Israel, the internal situation, efforts to avert the threat of sectarian strife, and the management of state affairs during this sensitive time, Nidaa al-Watan said.