Lebanon’s newly appointed President Joseph Aoun insists that Israel must fully withdraw its troops from the country by the February 18 ceasefire deadline, following reports that Israel has asked to keep troops in southern Lebanon until the end of the month.
Aoun said EU countries should “pressure Israel to complete its withdrawal by the February 18 deadline and return displaced Syrians to their country after the reasons for their stay in Lebanon no longer exist,” the Lebanon News Agency (NNA) reported.
Aoun also reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said he rejects “proposals that lead to any kind of displacement of Palestinians from their land or the violation of their legitimate rights enshrined in UN resolutions.”
A Lebanese official and foreign diplomat told Reuters that Israel had asked to keep its troops at five posts in southern Lebanon until February 28.