Aoun: Civilian Protection is a Priority.. Salloum: Avoid Dragging Lebanon into New War

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban: President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun affirmed that “protecting civilians and securing their basic needs constitutes a priority, especially in the South,” stressing “the necessity of respecting international humanitarian law, halting Israeli aggression, and providing conditions that enable residents to return safely to their villages and homes and resume their normal lives.” President Aoun also emphasized, in front of Agnès Dhur, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission in Lebanon, and Shouky Amineddine, humanitarian activities coordinator at the mission, “the importance of continuing the presence of international humanitarian organizations and their support for Lebanon in the coming period, and the necessity of keeping pace with growing humanitarian needs through sustainable programs that contribute to supporting local communities and strengthening their resilience.”

In Ain el-Tineh, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Elias Bou Saab, following a meeting of the Council’s Bureau, referred a question regarding the US administration’s request for Lebanese Consul General in Detroit Ibrahim Sharara to leave the country to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “provide the correct answer.” He said: “I do not know if this is a ‘political slip’ following the US election results or not; we do not interfere in the affairs of other countries.”

Regarding the call for dialogue, Bou Saab relayed President Nabih Berri’s proposal that there be side dialogues, meaning not just between two teams, but among all teams with differences among themselves. He added that Berri stressed that they are facing numerous changes, including the US election results and the governmental change in Israel, expressing hope for unifying Lebanese efforts and positions and placing Lebanon’s interests first despite internal disagreements.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam prioritized the security of Beirut in his follow-ups, presiding over the regular ministerial meeting at the Baabda Presidential Palace, emphasizing that “the priority at this stage is protecting Lebanon and preserving its security and stability, and avoiding dragging it into any new war.” He pointed out the necessity of sustaining the measures recently taken to enhance security in Greater Beirut.

For his part, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai opened the sessions of the Council of Catholic Bishops and Archbishops, reaffirming commitment to Lebanon’s message, safeguarding coexistence, and building a state of justice, law, and institutions, while protecting freedoms and human dignity. The Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, representing Pope Pius XIV, highlighted the Pope’s educational initiatives for low-income Lebanese and addressed a call issued by the mayors of Rmeish, Dabbou, Ain Ebel, Alama al-Shaab, and Qozhah, requesting assistance “so that resilience is not merely waiting for the unknown, but a choice for life based on security, dignity, work, and hope.” Regarding the Middle East, he called for adopting new stances based on rejecting the logic of violence and revenge, transcending divisions, and opening a page of reconciliation and peace, considering that the outcomes of the path of hostility and war have become clear, and that the time has come to change direction and cultivate hearts and minds toward peace.