Lebanon Officials Discuss Ceasefire with US Envoy Ortagus

U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus held a series of constructive meetings with senior Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, focusing on the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah and the ongoing Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon. The discussions addressed key issues such as the implementation of the November 27 ceasefire, which requires Israel to withdraw from specific areas and Hezbollah to redeploy its forces. Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel maintains troops in five locations deemed strategic, raising concerns about Lebanon's sovereignty. Ortagus emphasized U.S. support for strengthening Lebanese state institutions and addressing border disputes while also advocating for economic reforms to combat corruption. The meetings included discussions on the Lebanese-Syrian border situation and the need for continued cooperation with international monitoring committees. Overall, the talks were characterized as positive, highlighting the urgency of resolving outstanding issues between Lebanon and Israel.