President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the continued Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon prevents the Lebanese army from deploying in the region [1].
The inability to station national forces along the border undermines the legitimacy of the Lebanese state and creates a security vacuum. This instability increases the risk of internal conflict and prevents the establishment of a comprehensive peace agreement [2].
Aoun said that the presence of Israeli forces obstructs the army's movement and prevents the realization of a just and comprehensive peace [3]. He said that the current situation hinders the state's ability to exercise full sovereignty over its southern territory — a prerequisite for long-term stability.
These political tensions coincide with escalating violence on the ground. An Israeli airstrike recently targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of four civilians [4]. Among the casualties were three women [4].
The president's remarks highlight a critical deadlock in the region. By blocking the Lebanese army from spreading throughout the south, the occupation ensures that the state cannot maintain order or secure the border independently [1].
Aoun said that the occupation is the primary obstacle to a stable security architecture in the south [3]. He said that the Lebanese state cannot effectively govern or protect its citizens while foreign forces maintain a presence on its soil [2].
“The continued Israeli occupation prevents the Lebanese army from deploying in the south.”
The Lebanese government's inability to deploy its own military in the south creates a dependency on non-state actors or foreign influence for security. By linking the deployment of the Lebanese army to the withdrawal of Israeli forces, President Aoun is framing the military's absence not as a failure of the state, but as a direct consequence of foreign occupation. This dynamic complicates diplomatic efforts to stabilize the border, as any security arrangement must now account for both the legitimacy of the Lebanese state and the physical presence of Israeli troops.
