Lebanese-Israeli Maritime Boundary: Legal Status Unchanged Amid New Naval Map

Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Saddi has clarified that a newly published Israeli military map does not alter the 2022 maritime border agreement between Lebanon and Israel. He reaffirmed that the agreement is legally in effect, ensuring unchanged sovereignty over Lebanon's maritime boundaries despite the map's implications.

Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Saddi has stated that an Israeli military map depicting a 'naval forward defense area' extending beyond the Lebanese coastline does not affect the existing maritime border agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The map, released by the Israeli military, suggests an extended naval presence starting from the Lebanese coast into the Mediterranean Sea. However, Minister Saddi emphasized that legally, this new cartographic representation holds no power to alter the internationally recognized border, which was settled in 2022.

Saddi assured that the agreement remains intact, dismissing any implications or potential changes posed by the Israeli military's new map. He reiterated Lebanon's commitment to the established maritime boundaries.