Aoun: We chose to negotiate with Israel for Lebanon's benefit, not to appease anyone abroad

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, told a delegation from the “Lebanon Youth Movement” that “our loyalty must be to our country.” He stated, “He who relies on foreign powers against others within the country is the loser, because the outside world will abandon him sooner or later. No war in Lebanon has ever produced a winner; everyone lost, and the country lost.”

He pointed out that “we chose the option of negotiation because we are a sovereign state, and this decision is in Lebanon’s interest, not to appease anyone abroad.” He clarified, “When I call for ending the state of hostility with Israel, I mean ending the wars that destroyed the country and claimed innocent lives, which we can no longer bear. Any interpretation to the contrary is wrong and suspicious.”

President Aoun attributed the “delay” in the “reforms committed to in his inaugural address” to “the war that targeted Lebanon.” He affirmed that there would be no retreat from these commitments and emphasized the “continuation of efforts to achieve them, as they represent the image of the new Lebanon. We are fighting a battle against corruption, and combating it is done through the judiciary, a digital government, and cooperation between Lebanese citizens and the state.”

President Aoun met with Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam to discuss the current domestic situation in light of continued Israeli attacks on several towns and villages in the south, which experienced another day of raids, destruction, fire, and massive explosions in Mansouriya. They also discussed measures being taken by the Lebanese Army to strengthen its deployment in unoccupied villages, the resumption of work by government administrations, the 2027 budget project, and preparations for Salam’s leadership of the Lebanese delegation to the UN General Assembly meetings in the third week of this month, as stated by the Lebanese Presidency. They also discussed the agenda for the cabinet session scheduled to take place at Baabda Palace today.

Aoun also discussed the needs of the Internal Security Forces and security agencies with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad Hajar, amid preparations for a conference to be held in Paris aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Lebanese Army and security forces and strengthening state institutions.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, announced in a statement that Guterres expressed “deep concern over the escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, particularly in the city of Nabatieh and its surroundings.” He condemned “the growing number of civilian casualties, including women and children killed and injured as a result of escalating attacks, and the suffering and displacement caused by evacuation orders, as well as scenes of widespread destruction and ruin.” He also expressed “deep concern over reports of Israeli strikes on hospitals, healthcare workers, and public institutions, as well as restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid,” and called on “all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, to protect civilians and civilian objects at all times. Attacks directed against them are unacceptable.”

Guterres called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities,” urging “Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory,” and called on “all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to fulfill their obligations under Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).”

For his part, Leader of the Lebanese Forces party Samir Geagea said in a statement, “Nabatieh is under fire, and our greatest fear is that its fate will mirror that of Ali al-Tahir, Ashiqif, and other border villages, while Nabatieh holds historical symbolism.”

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Chen Chuandong, speaking to the Lebanese Journalists Syndicate, stated that “China supports Lebanon in its sovereignty, security, and the unity of its people. China always supports Lebanon at the United Nations and opposes all operations targeting it with harm. Israel must immediately withdraw from the territories it occupies in this country and cease any illegal operations against it.” He added, “Noting that there are 8,800 Chinese soldiers serving as part of the peacekeeping forces in the south, China supports the continued presence of UNIFIL in this area.”