Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed on Wednesday Lebanon’s adherence to sovereignty over all its territories, land, sea and air, stressing “the security authority of the army in the south, which refutes the arguments that the enemy relies on.”
Mikati said in a speech after the cabinet session today: “Today, we begin the process of restoring what was destroyed, and we pin our hope on the army to restore security to the south,” adding: “We affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing Security Council Resolution 1701 with all its provisions.”
Mikati continued: “We are living exceptional moments, and the responsibility is great and collective to unite and build a state that protects the gains,” adding: “We are regaining the world’s confidence in us, and we are restoring the Lebanese people’s confidence in the state, and we affirm the security authority of the army in the south.”
Mikati called on “the Israeli enemy to commit to the ceasefire decision and withdraw from the territories it occupied,” adding: “We are fully confident that tomorrow will be better for Lebanon, provided that we put our differences aside.”
He explained that “everyone was betting on sedition, but we saw despite the difficult social conditions, citizens embracing each other,” hoping that “this day will bring security and stability to Lebanon despite the pain.” The ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese “Hezbollah” went into effect early Wednesday morning, after the two sides agreed to an agreement brokered by the United States and France.
