Lebanese president: Talks with Israel aim to end hostilities

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that ending hostilities with Israel is the primary goal of ongoing negotiations, emphasizing that any agreement between the two countries must be implemented fully and simultaneously, not unilaterally.

Speaking Monday during a visit to Athens, Aoun stated that Lebanon is a "proponent of peace" and is determined to build "the best relations with its neighbors." He explained that the talks with Israel, which led to a framework agreement in June, were launched to end the state of hostility.

Aoun stressed that the agreement "cannot be implemented by one side only; it must be applied in its entirety and not selectively," adding, "Solving the issue through military force does not and will not succeed."

Outlining Lebanon’s approach, Aoun said: "We have decided today that the only possible solution is to address both issues simultaneously and in parallel: a full Israeli withdrawal and exclusive control of our armed forces over all our territory."

In Athens, Aoun met with Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He called on Greece to "help Lebanon as much as possible to implement the agreement" and requested its support in all international forums.

View the post on X

Aoun also expressed Lebanon’s hope for Greece’s support at the United Nations, where Lebanon is seeking to maintain an international presence in the south "to assist the Lebanese state in its rescue plan."

He further called for continued support for the Lebanese army and official armed forces, saying: "I look forward to your continued support for the Lebanese army and our official armed forces, which we have tasked with saving Lebanon from its two interlinked and chronic crises: the presence of occupation on our land and the existence of weapons outside state authority."