Beirut:Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has proposed the deployment of Turkish military forces on Lebanon's border with Israel. This proposal was made during a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, following the anticipated withdrawal of UNIFIL forces.
According to Maan News Agency, Erdogan emphasized the importance of a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, viewing it as essential for the Lebanese state to extend its authority across its territory. The discussions also included reconstruction efforts, with Erdogan expressing Turkey's willingness to assist, either through financial aid or by rebuilding a selected village.
President Aoun sought clarification on Turkey's potential contributions, referencing a prior conversation with President Erdogan in Ankara regarding support for the Lebanese army. Erdogan stated that Ankara is prepared to have a presence in southern Lebanon if a specific framework for international forces on the Lebanon-Israel border is agreed upon. He also committed to boosting support from Turkish institutions, particularly in the education sector, to mitigate the impact of the Israeli conflict.