Beirut: President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun and Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the French Republic, General Vincent Giraud, discussed the current situation in southern Lebanon and reported Israeli violations of the cease-fire. The meeting also focused on preparatory talks in Washington ahead of the start of direct negotiations with the Israeli entity.
According to Qatar News Agency, the two officials discussed the period following the scheduled withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from the south at the beginning of next year. Aoun expressed that Lebanon welcomed France's and other European nations' desire to maintain a troop presence in the south to assist the Lebanese Army in maintaining security and stability. He noted, however, that the framework under which these forces would operate must be determined through consultations with the concerned nations and the United Nations.