Surprise visit to Hezbollah stronghold: Lebanese president arrives in Nabatieh, calls for restoration of state sovereignty

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a surprise visit to the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, and called for the restoration of state sovereignty in the area. Aoun emphasized that state institutions must provide residents with conditions that allow them to stay, and sharply criticized Israel, accusing it of exploiting the security vacuum to carry out attacks.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a surprise visit to the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold, and called for the restoration of state sovereignty in the region. The visit took place during a sensitive period, against the backdrop of escalation in the south. Aoun said that "the south is an essential part of Lebanon, it's time for the state to return to the south," and emphasized that state institutions must provide residents with conditions that allow them to stay in their homes. In recent days, the Lebanese state has strengthened its presence in the city: the State Security apparatus renewed patrols, set up checkpoints, and announced that its goal is to protect the city and strengthen the sense of security. The president met yesterday with the head of State Security and discussed expanding the organization's activity in the south. Aoun sharply criticized Israel, claiming that the repeated attacks, killing of civilians, and destruction of homes are "obscene, unacceptable, and unjustifiable crimes," which he said undermine efforts to curb the escalation. The visit was intended to demonstrate the presence of state institutions in the heart of an area identified with Hezbollah, and simultaneously to convey a message to Israel and international mediators that Beirut seeks to establish its sovereignty in the south through the army and state mechanisms.