Discussion on Lebanese Army and International Support

To discuss this, joining us from Beirut is Yusuf Diab, writer and journalist.

Mr. Yusuf, good morning and welcome. What is your assessment

of the Deir Mimas incident in terms of its circumstances

and timing, which came after the

Paris conference to support the Lebanese Army and before the

eighth round of negotiations, expected to be held

soon?

Good morning to you and the viewers. Of course, the incident

is, first of all, embarrassing for the Lebanese

state and the Lebanese Army, which

has pledged to carry out the task of extending its authority

over southern Lebanon once the Israeli withdrawal takes place.

But at the same time, it is

a challenge to the international community and the United

States, which is demanding that the Lebanese Army carry out

its duties fully by restricting weapons to the state and extending

its authority over all Lebanese territory. It is also

a challenge to all the countries that

participated in the preparatory conference in Paris

to support the Lebanese Army. I believe this incident is very serious,

but

the question today is not being put to the Lebanese Army about how it deals

But also on the international community

And the American sponsor of negotiations between Lebanon

and Israel, of course.

We will return to this point about the role of the international community, or what

Lebanon can get from the international community after this tension in

Deir Mimas. But what impact will what happened have on the negotiating track

between

Israel and Lebanon in the anticipated next round,

and on the practical path of implementing the

Lebanese Army's plan in the south? Mr. Youssef.

Of course, it will have an impact and will, I mean,

be the first topic of discussion in the next

round. Lebanon will ask the Israeli side

what it wants from the Lebanese Army. Does it regard the Lebanese Army

as an enemy

and reject its deployment in southern Lebanon? Does

Israel want to maintain its dominance alone in

the region? Or does Israel, as

it claims, want the Lebanese state to be present

in southern Lebanon and prevent the presence of Hezbollah or any

other militia? Therefore, yes, the Lebanese state is supposed to

to answer or raise questions

placed on the table

of discussions or negotiations. There must also

be answers, not from Israel, known for its Israeli

aggressive ideas toward Lebanon

and even toward the Lebanese Army. An answer is also required from

the American sponsor of these negotiations. Of course, I mean, we cannot

ask the Lebanese Army, nor can the United States ask

the Lebanese Army to deploy and assert its authority

and power

in the southern regions, only for there to be

a confrontation with Israel or a rejection of its presence by

Israel in these areas.

Mr. Youssef, however.

This is a key issue on the negotiating table.

Any new support for the Lebanese Army remains tied to achieving

tangible, practical, real results on the ground.

How will

the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese government overcome this particular point?

Israel is obstructing on one hand. No, even Washington has begun

accusing the Lebanese Army and indicating that

its failure to carry out its mission is not

not because of a lack of support, but a lack of

will.

This, I mean, this contradicts reality.

As you mentioned, before the second support war,

on March 2 of last year, the Lebanese Army had deployed

across the entire area south of the Litani, except

for the five areas or points controlled by Israel.

The Lebanese Army had drawn up a plan to implement

the second phase north of the Litani. The Lebanese

Army is implementing the political decision taken by

the government on August 2 and 5,

2025, to place weapons solely in the hands of the state and disarm

Hezbollah. The war came to block the Lebanese Army's path.

الجيش اللبناني. لكن واضح الكل مقتنع بأن الجيش اللبناني

lacks the military, logistical,

and intelligence capabilities to carry out this task across all Lebanese territory.

Mr. Youssef, regarding the point you raised, the importance of international support.

الدولي. لبنان يستعد للمشاركة في اجتماعات الجمعية

Assembly meetings. How can Beirut

Exploiting, exploiting the Mimas incident

to rally more international support and perhaps even

extend the peacekeeping forces' mandate?

This is an important issue. I think the file

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is taking to New York and then to

Washington naturally carries all these points

that you mentioned and referred to. First,

there is the issue of supporting the Lebanese Army, helping

Lebanon secure Israel's withdrawal from the areas

it occupied, a ceasefire, and the release of prisoners.

Then, beginning the reconstruction process. This issue will not be limited

to raising it before the United Nations General

Assembly. These matters will be discussed between

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and officials in

the U.S. administration in Washington. I believe

the United States has no other choice but

to support the Lebanese Army. Any delay or

hesitation in supporting the state, and through it, the Lebanese Army,

means that matters remain left

to Hezbollah, which suits Hezbollah and Iran's proxies.

in the region, even Iran's allies within

Lebanon. The stronger the state becomes, the more Hezbollah recedes,

and the weaker the state becomes, the more it strengthens Hezbollah's

role and presence. Therefore, I believe the international community is convinced of this

importance and must provide the necessary

support to the state and the Lebanese army.

Thank you very much. From Beirut, Youssef Diab,

journalist and writer.