Beirut: President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Thursday expressed full support for the statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command, praising the national role played by the armed forces in extending state authority and restoring Lebanon's sovereignty over all its territory.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Aoun stressed that achieving sustainable stability remains linked to addressing unresolved issues that hinder the full exercise of state authority, foremost among them Israel's continued occupation of parts of Lebanese territory, the establishment of buffer zones, and ongoing Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty by land, sea, and air.

Aoun reiterated that a complete Israeli withdrawal, respect for the cessation of hostilities, and the release of detainees are essential to enabling the state to exercise sovereignty, ensure the safe return of displaced civilians, and launch an orderly reconstruction process in the affected southern areas.

Moreover, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to implementing the cessation-of-hostilities agreement and called on the international community-particularly sisterly and friendly countries-to assist Lebanon in applying the agreement.

The president's remarks came in response to the army's statement confirming that its plan to confine weapons has entered an advanced stage after effectively achieving the objectives of its first phase on the ground, while noting that continued Israeli attacks, occupation, buffer zones, repeated violations of the November 27, 2024 ceasefire, and delays in receiving promised military capabilities negatively affect mission implementation.

In the full text of his statement, Aoun underscored that the deployment of Lebanese armed forces south of the Litani River is part of a comprehensive national decision grounded in the constitution, state resolutions, and relevant international commitments, aimed at entrenching the state's exclusive control over weapons and affirming that decisions of war and peace rest solely with constitutional institutions.

The President concluded by renewing his full confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces, commending their sacrifices and efforts, affirming the state's unified backing of the military, and saluting the resilience of citizens in southern Lebanon and their trust in the state and the army as protectors and ultimate reference points.