Lebanon01 October, 20263 min read
Joseph Aoun And Nabih Berri Urge US To Pressure Israel To Halt Southern Lebanon Operations
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Aoun and Berri urged US to pressure Israel to halt southern Lebanon operations. They sought continued support for the Lebanese Army and reforms.
Aoun, Berri press Washington
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged the United States to increase pressure on Israel to implement agreements and halt operations in southern Lebanon, as Lebanese authorities also requested continued support for the armed forces and said they intend to pursue economic, financial and judicial reforms. Aoun told US House of Representatives members Darin LaHood and Josh Gottheimer that Lebanon is adhering to the framework agreement reached during Lebanese-American-Israeli talks in Washington, while Israel is disregarding its provisions.
Aoun called for an end to demolition, bulldozing and destructive work in southern villages that, according to him, are occupied by Israel, and he called for speeding up the return of Lebanese prisoners, resolving disputed issues along the Blue Line, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory alongside the deployment of the Lebanese army to the internationally recognized southern border. Berri said Israel’s failure to fulfill its commitments under the agreements concluded to end the war is the main obstacle to their implementation, and he added that the US administration and President Donald Trump, in his view, are capable of influencing Israel to halt military operations in Lebanon.
Salam ties reform to sovereignty
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed banking and financial reforms, negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, and cooperation with the World Bank with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, while also linking state-building to internal reform and the consolidation of sovereignty. Salam told Lebanese figures that building the state requires the full extension of state authority across the entire country and cannot take place with two armies and two decision-making centers.
Berri warned against not renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and he emphasized the importance of preserving the UN umbrella and flag for any forces that would assist the Lebanese army after Israel withdraws its troops from Lebanese territory. Aoun said it is necessary to provide the Lebanese army with resources to combat terrorism and smuggling, guard the borders, protect institutions and maintain civil peace, while LaHood confirmed the continuation of US assistance to Lebanon and its army, including military aid approved by Congress.
Violence continues, UNIFIL at stake
On the ground, Israeli operations in the south escalated as the Israeli army carried out bombings in the town of Zutr al-Sharqiya in the Nabatieh District and in Majdal Zoun in the Tyre District, affecting a number of houses, while artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of Mais al-Jabal and Wadi al-Salouqi. The Higher Relief Commission announced the arrival of the twelfth batch of aid organized by Jordan to Lebanon, comprising 20 trucks, via the Masnaa border crossing, as part of supporting those affected by the consequences of the escalation.
In parallel, ACLED said violence in Lebanon reached its highest level since 7 October 2023 after Hezbollah joined the war in support of Iran on 2 March 2026, and it said violence has declined during ceasefire periods including after the ceasefire took effect on 21 June 2026. Al-Manar quoted Nabih Berri warning that there was still time to avoid “the mistake of not renewing the mandate” of UNIFIL, and it added that the Security Council extended UNIFIL’s mandate for a final time until December 31, 2026.