Beirut: Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea reaffirmed his party's support for President Joseph Aoun and the government's decision to pursue direct negotiations with Israel under the framework agreement, describing it as the only viable path out of Lebanon's current crisis.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Geagea, during a meeting with Aoun at Baabda Palace alongside a Strong Republic bloc delegation, stressed that only the president, government, and Parliament represent the Lebanese state. He called for a unified army and state control over arms, urging Aoun to persist with the framework process despite its limitations, as no realistic alternative exists.
Aoun responded that he would not retreat from his decision to negotiate. He emphasized that Lebanon had previously engaged in direct talks with Israel and that the current track seeks to restore Lebanon's rights through diplomacy while preserving national sovereignty. He mentioned that the framework agreement offers an opportunity to recover what was lost through war if Israel fulfills its commitments.
Separately, Aoun met with Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal to review the security situation, preparations for the army's deployment in designated pilot areas under the framework agreement alongside an Israeli withdrawal, and the army's operational needs.