Boulos: Ceasefire Covers All of Lebanon, Not Just South of Litani

Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, described the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire as a significant agreement for both countries, whose full impact will become clearer over time. In an interview with French magazine Le Point, Boulos emphasized that the agreement is comprehensive, addressing all essential issues.

Initially, there was some confusion in Lebanon, where people believed the agreement only applied to the area south of the Litani River. However, Boulos clarified that the deal covers the entire country and focuses on the disarmament of all armed groups, including militias and paramilitary forces. He also pointed out that the agreement specifically references the enforcement of U.N. resolutions 1701 and 1559.

Boulos noted that only a few institutions in Lebanon, such as the Lebanese Army, Internal Security Forces, customs, and municipal police, are authorized to hold weapons. When asked about disarming Hezbollah, he acknowledged the difficulty of the task but shared that an estimated 70% of Hezbollah’s strategic weapons, including missile and drone depots, had been destroyed during the war. He stressed that the Lebanese Army, which now has full authority to begin disarming militias, will oversee the process, though it will take time.

The ceasefire agreement also grants the Lebanese Army control over weapon flows, including from the Syrian border, the Beirut airport, and the capital’s port. Boulos addressed concerns over violations of the ceasefire by Israel, stating that both sides had violated the agreement. However, he emphasized that the ceasefire is in a 60-day trial period, with the agreement allowing both parties to defend themselves.

On the role of the U.S. in monitoring the ceasefire, Boulos explained that the U.S. and France are key players in ensuring the agreement is implemented properly. He pointed out that Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, failed because it lacked a clear implementation mechanism, a problem that this new agreement has corrected.

Finally, Boulos advised Lebanon’s lawmakers against rushing to elect a president, stressing the importance of achieving broad consensus and not just securing a president with a slim majority.