Aoun seeks to negotiate with Israel following its withdrawal from the south and to advance in the disarmament of Hezbollah to avoid a new war in Lebanon
Aoun will raise these needs during his visit to Paris, where he will participate in a meeting organized by French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting will also include the presence of Jordan's King Abdullah II and aims to gather international support for the Lebanese armed forces as they advance southward.
The president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, announced that his government will seek to negotiate a security agreement with Israel following the withdrawal of its forces from the south of the country, while moving forward with a plan to disarm Hezbollah and prevent a new internal confrontation.
Aoun stated that Beirut has no alternative but to resort to negotiations to resolve tensions with Israel and address the future of Hezbollah. "We have no option but negotiations, because the alternative is war, which would be very costly for us," he affirmed in an interview before traveling to France.
The leader maintained that the disarmament of the Iran-backed group "is non-negotiable and not open for discussion," but insisted that his goal is to achieve that outcome through peaceful means. Aoun seeks to prevent the process from triggering a confrontation among the various political and military forces in the country or generating a new civil war.
The Lebanese government considers it especially urgent to define the future of security in the south of the country in light of the expected departure of United Nations peacekeeping forces. The international mission, known as UNIFIL, has been deployed in Lebanese territory since 1978, and its mandate will expire at the end of this year, after the UN Security Council decided in 2025 to end the operation.
To prevent a security vacuum, Aoun proposed establishing a temporary force to remain in the south until the Lebanese Army is able to fully assume control of the area. The proposal includes the participation of European, Arab, Asian, American, or United Nations personnel.
The Lebanese president requested support from the United States, the European Union, and Arab countries to facilitate this deployment. His goal is to strengthen the capabilities of the Army and allow state forces to gradually extend their presence throughout the territory.
In parallel, Aoun believes that a potential agreement with Israel should begin by ending the state of hostility between the two countries. The leader indicated that the understanding could establish the withdrawal of armies from the border and create new security guarantees. As he explained, this process could subsequently open the door to a peace agreement, although Lebanon may not yet be prepared to move directly toward that stage.
The initiative faces the influence of Iran over Hezbollah. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed to the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Tehran's support for the "Lebanese resistance" and proposed greater regional coordination against Israel.
According to Iranian diplomacy, Araqchi and Berri discussed the situation in the Middle East and Israel's actions against Lebanon and other countries in the region. Tehran also expressed its concern for preserving Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The exchange between Beirut and Tehran reflects the opposing positions surrounding the future of Hezbollah. While Aoun seeks to concentrate control of weapons in the State and strengthen the Army, Iran continues to support the terrorist group and demands greater regional coordination against Israel.
