Lebanese president urges regional reconciliation, demands end to Israeli aggression

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday called for an end to Israeli military operations and urged regional powers to seize the current momentum for reconciliation to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, Aoun said the regional atmosphere was increasingly moving toward dialogue and resolution, warning that Lebanon must not be excluded from these efforts. 

He emphasized that “continued war, destruction, killing, and displacement can no longer be tolerated,” urging all sides to prioritize diplomacy and humanitarian recovery.

Aoun’s remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to the Israeli Knesset, during which Trump praised Lebanon’s ongoing disarmament efforts and reaffirmed broad regional support for a plan to bring all weapons under state control. 

The plan, backed by international mediators, envisions progressive demilitarization and the normalization of relations between Lebanon and Israel under United Nations supervision.

The Lebanese president said dialogue and negotiations were the only sustainable means of achieving peace. “Lebanon cannot remain outside the current regional trajectory focused on resolving crises,” he said, stressing that the time was ripe for constructive talks.

Addressing the issue of weapons held by non-state actors, Aoun noted that the problem lay not in arms themselves but in their misuse. 

He said the government and army had begun overseeing the handover of weapons from several Palestinian refugee camps as part of Lebanon’s broader commitment to state authority.

Since the ceasefire agreement with Israel last November, Aoun said, the Lebanese Army has been actively engaged in clearing areas south of the Litani River of remaining militant presence. 

“About 85 percent of the land has been cleared,” he stated, though he acknowledged that challenging terrain and approaching winter conditions were slowing progress. He revealed that 12 soldiers, including bomb disposal experts, had lost their lives in these operations.

The president also condemned ongoing Israeli airstrikes, saying Tel Aviv “continues to send military and bloody messages to pressure us,” citing the bombing of excavation equipment in Musaylih as evidence of continued aggression. 

Despite this, Aoun reaffirmed that Lebanon remains committed to the November peace agreement, calling for renewed mediation efforts by the United States and France.

Aoun also urged the international community to convene a conference for reconstruction in southern Lebanon, where infrastructure and housing were heavily damaged by conflict. 

“The people of the south have rights that must be fulfilled,” he said, adding that while the government currently lacks the financial means to begin rebuilding, international support could help accelerate recovery.

The president clarified that the $230 million in recent U.S. congressional aid to Lebanon’s security forces would fund equipment and vehicles rather than direct financial assistance. 

He said this support reflected confidence in the Lebanese Army’s professionalism and ongoing reforms in defense and security institutions.

Aoun also pointed to signs of economic stabilization, noting that the Ministry of Economy projects growth of up to 5 percent this year, driven by increased remittances and tourism. “Our security situation is stable, and the summer season was promising, with over 1.7 million visitors recorded,” he said.

Looking ahead, Aoun emphasized strengthening ties with neighboring Syria, citing positive meetings with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and plans to establish joint committees on border demarcation, trade, and security cooperation.

“The trajectory of the region is one of peace and cooperation,” Aoun concluded. “Lebanon must be an integral part of that process.”