BEIRUT: Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said he held talks with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi, expressing appreciation for the support outlined in a joint ministerial statement regarding US-mediated Lebanese-Israeli negotiations.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, Raggi said Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry “highly appreciated” the references to Lebanon included in the GCC-US statement and welcomed the backing for the ongoing talks.
“Particularly its welcome of the ongoing US-mediated negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, its emphasis on preserving the negotiation process and keeping it separate from any other track, and its affirmation that Lebanon cannot achieve full sovereignty as long as non-state armed groups retain military capabilities,” the statement read.
“The ministry also welcomes its call for the complete disarmament of all such groups and for the Lebanese state alone to have the exclusive authority to use force,” it added.
I held a phone call with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, H.E. Mr. Jasem Albudaiwi, during which I conveyed my appreciation for the support expressed in the joint ministerial statement issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States for the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/gSNNSsmvSS
— Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi) June 26, 2026
A Joint Statement following the ministerial meeting of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed the bloc’s full commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity.
“To that end, they welcomed ongoing bilateral negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States, aimed at creating the conditions for a lasting peace and security agreement between the countries,” it said.
The Ministers welcomed the development of a practical approach that allows for the restoration of security and Lebanese state authority and the demarcation of permanent boundaries.
They stressed that full Lebanese sovereignty cannot be achieved while non-state armed groups maintain military capabilities outside the Lebanese state authority and called for the full disarmament of all such groups and the restoration of the Lebanese state’s monopoly of force, while recognising the importance of supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in doing so.
Israel issues evacuation orders in south Lebanon
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have dropped leaflets over a town in southern Lebanon ordering residents to evacuate, Lebanese state media reported. According to Reuters, it marks the first such evacuation order issued since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect.
The town is located near the boundary of the area where Israeli forces remain deployed inside southern Lebanon, according to Israel’s designated positions.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the overall toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 has risen to 4,243 dead and 12,186 wounded.
Hezbollah chief says Israel must ‘unconditionally’ leave Lebanon
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Friday said Israel has “no option” but to withdraw from Lebanese areas it occupies.
“Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land… Israel must leave unconditionally,” Qassem said.
