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Massad Boulos, Donald Trump’s senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, called the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel a “historic agreement for both countries”, the importance of which will be measured in the weeks and months to come. In an interview with the magazine The Pointhe praised the scope of this agreement which he considers “very comprehensive” and covering “all the necessary points”.
National scope and ambitious goals
Refuting initial interpretations that this agreement only concerns the region south of the Litani River, Boulos clarified that it aims the entire Lebanese territory. The agreement provides in particular for the disarmament of all armed groupswhether militias or paramilitary groups, in accordance with UN resolutions, including UN resolutions 1701 et 1559.
“Only certain institutions, such as the Lebanese army, internal security forces, customs and municipal police, are authorized to possess weapons in Lebanon,” he explained, emphasizing the desire to restore authority of the Lebanese State throughout the territory.
Challenges related to disarming Hezbollah
Asked how to disarm Hezbollah, Boulos acknowledged the complexity of this task. He estimated that almost 70% of Hezbollah’s strategic weapons, missile and drone depots had been destroyed during the war, but conceded that complete disarmament would take months or longer.
The agreement grants the Lebanese army the responsibility of initiating this process, while entrusting it with the management of strategic points such as the border with SyriaBeirut airport and the capital’s port. These measures aim to cut off arms supply routes.
Ceasefire violations and testing period
Regarding the truce violations reported by Lebanese authorities, including Israeli military actions, Boulos acknowledged their existence while emphasizing that they were also occurring on the other side. He recalled that the agreement provides for a testing period of 60 days during which the parties retain a right to self-defense.
However, he insisted on the crucial role of supervisory committeeco-chaired by the United States and France, to ensure compliance and effective implementation of the agreement. Boulos stressed that the failure of Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, was due to the absence of monitoring mechanisms, a gap that this agreement corrects.
The political dimension: presidential election in Lebanon
Boulos also addressed the political crisis in Lebanon, particularly the presidential vacancy. He called on Lebanese lawmakers not to rush to elect “anyone,” warning against an election based solely on a 65-vote majority. According to him, it is essential to ensure broader participation of representatives to guarantee lasting political stability.
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