Lead:
President Joseph Aoun received UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at Baabda Palace today, reaffirming that UN Security Council Resolution 1701 must serve as the legal and foundational reference for any future international arrangements in the south, as the Lebanese government prepares for the departure of UNIFIL peacekeeping forces. The timing underscores Lebanon's diplomatic position ahead of a planned visit by US envoy Michael Waltz next week to gauge American positions on alternatives to the departing mission.
Details:
According to Al-Jumhouria, Mohammed conveyed greetings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and expressed UN solidarity with Lebanon during the current crisis. Aoun thanked her for the visit during what he called a delicate phase and praised UN support for stability and assistance to Lebanese citizens. Mohammed affirmed that the United Nations will continue standing with Lebanon and stressed the importance of maintaining Resolution 1701 as the reference framework.
Information Minister Paul Marquess stated separately that preventing any security vacuum from UNIFIL's withdrawal remains the primary concern of President Aoun and the government. Marquess disclosed that multiple solution frameworks are under international study, with serious American-French coordination evident from recent Paris discussions, though no consensus on a specific replacement model has yet emerged. He indicated that outlines of the anticipated solution may become clearer within coming hours and days.
On restoration of state services in the south, Marquess reported that telecommunications network coverage has recovered to approximately 90 percent, with ongoing efforts to extend service to remaining areas. Infrastructure repair also includes securing supplies for government hospitals. These operational gains form part of the broader repositioning strategy as Lebanon anticipates UNIFIL's final departure on December 31.
Watch For:
US envoy Michael Waltz's visit next week and his meetings with President Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam — Waltz's statements will signal whether Washington has moved beyond the stated American-French consensus on preventing a vacuum to endorsing a concrete replacement framework.
Whether Lebanon's insistence on Resolution 1701 as binding legal precedent will align with or conflict with American and international proposals; Al-Jumhouria reported circulation of ideas to replicate the Sinai Peninsula multinational force model established in 1981, which operates outside UN auspices.
The gap between Lebanese government timeline expectations and international diplomatic pace — Marquess suggested clarity within days, but no formal consensus on deployment, command structure, or participating nations has been publicly announced.