Today, the Embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Japan to Beirut issued a joint statement affirming their strong support for the Government of Lebanon. The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) welcomes this clear message and thanks the embassies for their principled stance.
The statement reaffirms that the Lebanese state should hold a monopoly on arms and decide matters of war and peace. The partners noted the steps taken by Lebanese authorities in the Dahr al-Baydar case and encouraged a swift, independent judicial process, free from political interference.
The embassies also stressed the need for a clear public commitment from all members of parliament and all political parties to support the President and the Prime Minister in their declarations that decisions on war and peace belong solely to the Lebanese state.
ATFL shares the embassies' ultimate goal: the full restoration of effective Lebanese sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory.