Lebanese leaders press US to enforce Israel ceasefire amid Washington talks

President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raji have urged Washington to compel Israel to implement the June 26 ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.

• Aoun, meeting US congressmen Darin Lahoud and Josh Gottheimer, called on Washington to pressure Israel to implement the ceasefire and accused Israel of noncompliance.
• Aoun said implementation requires returning Lebanese prisoners, settling Blue Line border disputes, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal in parallel with Lebanese army deployment.
• Raji, at the White House with Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Needham, said restricting weapons to state control is a sovereign Lebanese decision and demanded Israeli withdrawal.
• Needham reaffirmed US support, said Israel has no ambitions in Lebanon, and required Hezbollah to hand over its weapons in exchange for Israel's withdrawal.