NNA - In a meeting with U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, at Baabda Palace on Friday, President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, emphasized that "permanent stability in the south is closely linked to the completion of Israel's withdrawal from the territories it occupied during the last war, and the full implementation of Resolution 1701, including the provisions of the November 27 agreement." 

 “The release of Lebanese prisoners is an integral part of this agreement,” the President added. 

 Aoun further stressed, "Israeli assaults must cease, including the killing of innocents and soldiers, the destruction of homes, and the bulldozing and burning of agricultural lands." 

 "The Lebanese Army is ready to deploy in the villages and towns from which Israeli forces are withdrawing, with the goal of completing the withdrawal by the February 18 deadline,” affirmed Aoun. 

 The President went on to confirm that “cooperation with international forces will continue constructively to implement Resolution 1701, aiming to secure stability and gradually restore life to the liberated areas, which require a comprehensive plan and minimum living conditions."

 Regarding the formation of a new government, Aoun revealed that consultations were nearing their conclusion. 

 “The new government will be cohesive and capable of fulfilling the aspirations and hopes of the Lebanese people, as outlined in the inaugural speech,” Aoun said. 

On another note, President Aoun conveyed his regards to U.S. President Donald Trump through Ortagus, expressing gratitude for the U.S. support to Lebanon across various sectors.

President Aoun discussed with Ortagus the developments in the region, especially in Syria.

At the beginning of the meeting, Ortagus conveyed US President Donald Trump’s congratulations and best wishes for Aoun’s presidential tenure, reaffirming U.S. support for Lebanon and its people.

Ortagus also stressed "the United States' commitment to consolidating the close ties with Lebanon," hailing "the importance of the friendship and partnership between the American and Lebanese peoples."  

The meeting was attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, and US Assistant Deputy Secretary of State for the Levant and Lebanon Natasha Franceschi.

On the Lebanese side, the meeting was attended by the Security and Military Advisor to the President of the Republic, Brigadier General Antoine Mansour, Director of President Aoun’s Office Wassim Halabi, and President Aoun’s Advisor for International Affairs Antoine Haddad.

Following the meeting, Ortagus stated:  ”Thank you so much for having me in Lebanon. It’s wonderful to be here. My name is Morgan Ortagus. I am the deputy presidential special envoy to the Middle East. I work for Steve Witkoff, and of course, President Trump. And I bring you greetings from President Trump, from Steve Witkoff, and from our entire team in our brand new administration. I think it’s important to note that my very first trip outside of the United States is to Lebanon. It’s an honor to be here, and I think that I’m just so grateful to President Aoun and to the entire government for having me here.

This is a beautiful country. It’s an amazing people. As you know, there’s so many of the Lebanese diaspora in the United States. I have so many friends from Lebanon that live in the United States, and as I just told president Aoun, I’ve never seen so much excitement in the United States and from the Lebanese diaspora around the world about the future of this country. And I think it is largely in part, of course, because Hizballah was defeated by Israel. And we are grateful to our ally, Israel, for defeating Hizballah. But it’s also thanks to you, thanks to the Lebanese people. It is thanks to President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, and everyone in this government who is committed to an end of corruption, who is committed to reforms and who are committed to making sure that Hizballah is not a part of this government in any form, and that Hizballah remains disarmed and militarily defeated.

That, of course, starts with the pressure that President Trump is now placing on the Islamic Republic of Iran so that they can no longer fund their terror proxies through the region. And we will be working again to make sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t achieve a nuclear weapon and that they are unable to inflict chaos and harm into this country and to so many other countries around the region, which they were allowed to do for decades. That ends with President Trump. So, again, wanted to say that I am very, very grateful to be here.

I know we’re going to take a couple of questions. I think it’s really important for the Lebanese people to know that I’m committed to this country. The United States of America is committed to the friendship and partnership that we have with this new government. We’re incredibly hopeful that hope comes because we know that we have men and women of character, of resilience, of transparency. The men and women of character in this government will ensure that we start to end corruption. That we end influence from Hizballah and that we embark on the reforms for a greater country, for the Lebanon, that all of you that the people of Lebanon deserve.

As I just said to the president. We don’t want to look at Lebanon as a donor country. You’re a beautiful, sophisticated country that deserves to have the most impressive businessmen and women, the most impressive businesses, companies and country from around the world investing in here. We want to get to Lebanon, back to that place where it is, the place and the hope of the Middle East. And I know we’ll get there together. So with that, I welcome a couple of questions.”

Question: You are afraid that Hizballah would take control of the government. what if it insists to be part of the government, especially that it is a Lebanese part?

Ortagus: Well, I’m certainly not afraid of Hizballah and I’m not afraid of them because they’ve been defeated militarily. And we have set clear red lines from the United States that they won’t be able to terrorize the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government. So, the end of Hizballah’s reign of terror in Lebanon and around the world has started, and it’s over.

Question: Will the Israeli army stay in south Lebanon or will their stay be officially extended?

Ortagus: We are committed to February 18th. That was a negotiation that my partner, Eric Trager at the National Security Council and I did with the Lebanese government and the Israeli government. February 18th will be the date for redeployment whenever the Israeli the IDF troops will finish their redeployment. And of course, the LAF troops will come in behind them. So, we are very committed to that firm date. Thank you all. I’ll be back to Lebanon quite a bit. I really appreciate it. And I’ll talk to you hopefully every time that I come.

 ===============  R.H., L.Y