Lebanese minister demands full Israeli withdrawal and Gulf backing

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and an end to ongoing attacks on November 1. He called on Gulf states to assist in restoring Lebanese sovereignty while demanding full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Rajji made these remarks during the 22nd Manama Dialogue, an event organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He stated that reasserting state authority is necessary for national stability and for improving relations with Arab nations. The government under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is working to place all weapons under state control. This effort includes a ban on the military and security activities of Hezbollah.

"Lebanon will no longer allow its territory to be used against the security of its Arab brothers or as a bargaining chip in negotiations conducted beyond its borders," Rajji said during a session focused on the Eastern Mediterranean.

The minister reaffirmed Lebanese solidarity with Bahrain and other Gulf states against Iranian attacks and operations by armed groups linked to Tehran. He rejected any violations of their sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity. Rajji warned against regional powers using armed groups operating outside state authority to pursue ambitions. He noted that Lebanon has suffered the devastating consequences of such organizations serving as instruments of foreign influence.

Rajji highlighted concerns regarding maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea. He argued that Gulf security is now inseparable from developments in the Red Sea, which directly affects the security of the Eastern Mediterranean. He called for a comprehensive Arab strategic partnership based on sovereign states where legitimate institutions hold exclusive authority over war and peace decisions.