Lebanon president says country is no longer a pawn amid Israel ceasefire
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared that Lebanon will no longer be a battleground for external conflicts and emphasized moving from a ceasefire to permanent agreements with Israel to protect Lebanese sovereignty and unity.
- His statement followed a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, ending recent hostilities triggered by Hezbollah's attacks, which resulted in over 2,200 deaths and displaced more than a million people.
- Aoun thanked international actors, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia, for their role in ending the fighting, while assuring that any future agreements would not compromise Lebanon’s rights or territory.
- The ceasefire announcement came shortly after Lebanon and Israel held their first direct talks in decades in Washington, a move that faced criticism within Lebanon.
- Despite the truce, Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that Israeli troops would remain during the ceasefire period.
