Beirut: Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa stressed Thursday that his country’s government will work to implement UN Resolution 1701, considering that extending the state’s sovereignty over all its territories is a top priority.
According to Qatar News Agency, Menassa said in statements that the challenges facing Lebanon are many, most notably extending the state’s sovereignty over all its territories, protecting the borders, establishing security, and supporting the army. He emphasized his country’s rejection of the Israeli entity’s request to extend the presence of its forces in some locations in the south until the end of February.
He stated that the verification of the Israeli withdrawal from the south is being reviewed daily, indicating that the daily Israeli raids on the northern and eastern borders and the raids on his country fall within the framework of the ongoing attacks and violations of Resolution 1701. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army is working to prevent attacks from the eastern side.
On January 26, the 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the border villages and towns in southern Lebanon ended, in implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27. The Lebanese government announced its approval to extend the deadline until February 18.