Beirut: Lebanon has decided that only the Lebanese government will have a monopoly on weapons, as a new conflict is deemed unacceptable, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday. "The decision to concentrate weapons in the hands of the Lebanese state has been made, and a return to the language of war is unacceptable," Aoun declared during a meeting with French lawmakers in Beirut.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the president emphasized the necessity of the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Lebanese border territories to expedite the deployment of the Lebanese army on the border. This move is intended to ensure that the state fully assumes responsibility for the security of its borders. Currently, the Lebanese military is positioned on the border with Syria, fulfilling its obligations to prevent terrorist attacks, intercept smuggled goods, and ensure the country's security comprehensively, Aoun noted.

Joint Lebanese-Syrian commissions are set to be established to address contentious issues, such as the demarcation of land and sea borders and determining the status of Syrian refugees who have fled to Lebanon for economic reasons, the president said. "Everything we do is aimed at building the state and restoring trust in it both within the country and abroad," Aoun added.

In late March, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, reached an agreement on the necessity of border demarcation during negotiations held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Lebanon and Syria share a 330-kilometer (205-mile) border.

The Israeli military was scheduled to complete its withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon by January 26, sixty days after the ceasefire agreement came into effect. However, the obligations were not met, prompting Washington to announce an extension of the Israeli-Lebanese agreement until February 18, 2025. Despite this, the Israeli army still maintains its presence on Lebanese territory.

Lebanese movement Hezbollah was expected to transfer its weapons to the Lebanese army under the ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and France at the end of November 2024. However, the transfer has not occurred, with Hezbollah citing the threat of Israeli aggression as the reason.