Beirut, July 26 (SANA) Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said on Sunday that the government remains committed to extending state authority across the country and disarming groups operating outside state institutions, describing the effort as an irreversible national priority.
In an interview with the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Raji said President Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to washington had helped advance plans for the Lebanese Army‘s deployment in designated areas. He said the army had already begun deploying in the first of those areas, with the aim of expanding its presence across southern Lebanon until all weapons are brought under the authority of the state’s security forces.
Raji described the U.S.-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel as a “framework agreement,” saying it would serve as the basis for future negotiations. He added that the Lebanese government has decided to disarm Hezbollah militia and considers the group’s military operations illegitimate.
He said the government is working to reestablish state authority by dismantling armed structures operating outside official institutions and placing all weapons under state control, stressing that the issue concerns the state’s exclusive right to the legitimate use of force rather than any particular sect.
Raji called on the international community to continue supporting efforts to strengthen Lebanon’s state institutions, saying international assistance should reinforce Lebanon’s sovereign decision-making rather than replace the state’s authority.
He said the United States is the international actor best positioned to influence Israel, adding that U.S. mediation had secured assurances that Israel has no territorial ambitions toward Lebanon and that any final agreement would be binding on all parties.
Raji also highlighted France’s role in Lebanon, expressing hope that Paris would continue supporting Lebanese institutions and the armed forces while contributing to reconstruction and economic recovery.
On July 9, Raji said Lebanon had decided to end decades in which the country served as an arena for regional conflicts, stressing that no individual, group or armed organization has the right to usurp the authority of the state.
Lebanon and Israel signed the framework agreement on June 26 following a fifth round of negotiations in Washington.
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