Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Lebanon is transitioning into a new phase concentrating on securing lasting agreements to protect its citizens’ rights, territorial unity, and state sovereignty. Moving beyond ceasefire measures, the country aims to establish stability for the long term, with Aoun expressing optimism that these endeavors will safeguard Lebanon. He credited the ceasefire to the joint sacrifices of the Lebanese people, including those in frontline areas, and ongoing diplomatic dialogues with international and regional allies.
Negotiations, according to Aoun, signify a strategic move to safeguard Lebanon’s interests, prevent further casualties, and halt displacements. Emphasizing the heavy toll of the conflict, he stressed the importance of avoiding further loss of life for external interests or political gains. Aoun outlined key objectives for the upcoming phase, such as ending Israeli incursions, ensuring Israeli troop withdrawal, facilitating prisoner repatriation, enabling safe returns for displaced individuals, and reinstating the state’s authority across Lebanese territories.
Additionally, Aoun called for national unity under a unified state authority, constitution, and armed forces, cautioning against internal discord and external influences. Meanwhile, Wafiq Safa, a senior member of Hezbollah’s political council, affirmed that Hezbollah’s weaponry is non-negotiable at this stage, citing specific conditions that must be met before disarmament discussions can occur. Safa warned against a ceasefire resembling the previous one, which ended in March 2024 following heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, effective from Thursday to Friday local time, aims to de-escalate the conflict that has claimed over 2,200 lives in Lebanon, including healthcare workers. Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc expressed commitment to the ceasefire with caution, insisting on its extension to all Lebanese territories. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the ceasefire as an opportunity for diplomatic and military progress with Lebanon but reiterated Israel’s stance against Hezbollah. Despite the truce, reports emerged of an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, resulting in a casualty.
