Lebanon urges UNSC team to press Israel to respect truce

BEIRUT, Dec 06 (AFP): Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged a United Nations Security Council delegation on Friday to pressure Israel to respect a year-old ceasefire and to support his army's efforts to disarm Hezbollah.

Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon and has also maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic.

Aoun "stressed the need to pressure the Israeli side to implement the ceasefire and withdraw, and expressed his hope for pressure from the delegation", according to a statement from the presidency.

He also noted "Lebanon's commitment to implementing international resolutions" and asked the envoys to support the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm non-government groups.