Lebanon asks Greece to help enforce agreement with Israel

What the report says

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has asked Greece to help push forward a US-brokered framework agreement with Israel, during talks in Athens on Monday, according to Al Jazeera. The appeal came shortly after Greece and Israel announced a separate multibillion-dollar arms deal, adding diplomatic significance to Aoun’s visit.

Al Jazeera reports that Aoun pressed Greek President Constantine Tassoulas to support efforts to end Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Lebanon and to help bring an end to the conflict with Hezbollah. Lebanon and Israel agreed to the framework in late June. It calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the area.

The Lebanese side says it is carrying out its commitments, but Hezbollah has rejected the deal unless Israel first withdraws from Lebanese territory. Al Jazeera says Israel has continued air strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon, and that Beirut is seeking broader international support to keep the agreement from stalling. Aoun warned that military pressure would not solve the dispute and said the arrangement must be implemented by both sides.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece supports Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and unity, and backs de-escalation efforts, the report said. The next round of Lebanon-Israel talks is due in September, following a seventh US-mediated meeting earlier this month.