Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday that continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon are undermining the US-backed Framework Agreement, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. Aoun told Volker Türk that Lebanon remains committed to implementing the accord but “will not accept the continued violation of its provisions,” and called for urgent international action to halt what he described as direct violations of human rights and international law.

Aoun detailed Israeli actions including the destruction of civilian homes, the bulldozing of villages, and strikes on religious and heritage sites. He argued that targeting such locations, which he said are not military facilities and contain no armed presence, reveals “premeditated intentions against both people and property.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that his office is closely monitoring developments, particularly Israeli attacks since 2 March, and is preparing a detailed report on human rights violations.

The Framework Agreement, reached after direct negotiations in Washington, is viewed by Lebanese officials as a mechanism to restore state authority in the south. The Lebanese army has begun deploying in designated “experimental zones,” a step Aoun described as part of a broader effort to extend sovereignty and disarm Hezbollah. However, according to regional media reports, Hezbollah has rejected the outcome of the direct talks and refuses to relinquish its weapons, a stance that Beirut-based analysts say complicates the state’s ability to fulfil its security commitments under the deal.

From the perspective of UN officials, the agreement’s implementation depends on a full Israeli withdrawal and the strengthening of Lebanese state institutions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in a separate meeting with Türk, stressed the importance of the UN expert group’s work documenting potential war crimes since October 2023. The UN rights office’s forthcoming report is expected to catalogue violations, while the Lebanese government continues to press for international guarantees to secure the Israeli pullout and avert internal confrontation.