Aoun says Lebanon hasn't been informed of 'buffer zone' plans

President Joseph Aoun has said that Lebanon is still awaiting “the final Israeli response” to the Lebanese paper that was carried to Israel by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack.

In a meeting with visiting U.S. Senator Darin LaHood, Aoun also said that Lebanon has not been officially informed of what media reports have suggested about Israel’s intention to create a buffer zone in south Lebanon.

LaHood for his part congratulated Aoun on the government’s decision to monopolize arms in the hands of the state, stressing the Trump administration’s readiness to help Lebanon achieve sustainable stability and economic revival in the country.

U.S. news portal Axios had reported Thursday that a U.S. plan for Lebanon includes a "Trump economic zone" in parts of south Lebanon on the border with Israel.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar would invest in the reconstruction of these areas and the economic zone would protect Israel as it would make it harder for Hezbollah to reestablish itself there, the report said.

Barrack and U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus had met Wednesday in Paris with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. "The Israelis didn't say no (to Lebanon’s demands) and they are willing to give it a chance. They understand that what the Lebanese cabinet did was historic and that they need to give something back," a source told Axios.