Lebanon President Joseph Aoun. Photo courtesy of Anadolu.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun called Monday for direct negotiations with Israel under international supervision to establish a comprehensive truce that would stop all Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
Aoun said that the ongoing violence is partly caused by “an armed group outside the state,” claiming that rockets fired from Lebanese territory were intended as a provocation to trigger a wider Israeli response.
In a virtual meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Aoun described a worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that more than 600,000 Lebanese had been displaced, many living on roads without shelter or basic necessities.
He attributed the suffering to aggressive attacks on Lebanon that violate international laws, and to armed groups that disregard the country’s security and well-being.
Aoun urged international support for an initiative to implement a full ceasefire and end all Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
He also requested logistical assistance for the Lebanese army to help secure areas affected by recent clashes, seize illegal weapons, and disarm Hezbollah’s stockpiles and facilities.
The president emphasized that these security measures should be coordinated with the start of direct Lebanon-Israel negotiations under international oversight.
The escalation has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon and displaced thousands since March 2, following cross-border attacks linked to the US-Israel assault on Iran that began on February 28, which has resulted in over 1,200 deaths including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military bases.
