By David Sadler — Today, an official Lebanese delegation is heading to the border area of ​​Naqoura, to deliver the American mediator, Amos Hochstein and the United Nations, a letter signed by President Michel Aoun, including approval of the demarcation of the southern border with Israel in its final form, while the demarcation of the maritime border with Syria opened a new page of complexity. It was remarkable that the Lebanese army was “excluded” from this delegation, as well as from the demarcation negotiations with Syria, even though the army is directly concerned with technical negotiations. A prominent security source was surprised by what was leaked about the army’s refusal to delve into the issue of maritime border demarcation. The source explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the political leadership withdrew this file from the army, and agreed with the American mediator on Line 23 as a negotiating point without providing justifications.” The security source revealed that “the politicians did not ask the army about its opinion or about its maps and coordinates related to the border with Syria.”

On the other hand, the number of Syrian refugees wishing to return from Lebanon to their country, as part of the voluntary return plan, reversed the numbers announced by Lebanese government figures during the past weeks, amid official assurances that voluntary flights “will continue in the coming days.” A batch of displaced people began leaving Lebanon yesterday morning. Concerned sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the number of returning displaced reached 420 out of 1,500 registered in the Arsal region (border with Syria), pointing out that the numbers “did not match the registered regulations due to some reluctance to return to family ties.” About 750 displaced people were scheduled to leave from several areas, according to the Lebanese General Security, through at least three border points, as part of the “voluntary and safe return of displaced persons” plan.