Lebanon's president urges US pressure on Israel as truce frays

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on the United States to press Israel to cease fire and halt military operations, as violence continues despite a truce announced last month between Israel and Hezbollah.

In remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post, Aoun made the appeal during a meeting with the US ambassador to Lebanon, stressing the need for Israel to stop attacks and the destruction they cause. The report says 74 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the last three days, despite the truce that came into effect on April 17, and that 2,869 people have been displaced since March 2, when Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon began.

Aoun's comments come as Lebanon prepares for a fourth round of US-mediated talks with Israel, following landmark negotiations that began last month. According to The Hindu, Aoun said on May 25 that Israel's withdrawal from the south is a "non-negotiable" demand, describing the current situation as one in which "Lebanon is weighed down by a painful reality." The Hindu reported that Israel has declared a self-styled security zone, dubbed a "yellow line," running some 10 miles deep inside Lebanese territory, and has continued heavy strikes despite the April 17 ceasefire.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Aoun, in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, said, "We are fed up, and we want to live in peace." The US has helped mediate talks between Lebanon and Israel, with another round of negotiations expected in Washington in early June. Israel killed an officer in the Lebanese army on June 6, an incident that underscores the friction between the two militaries as they coordinate through US-mediated channels.

Key claims

  • Israel has occupied a security zone in south Lebanon since March 2, which Aoun described as a "renewed occupation."
  • Aoun said Lebanese sovereignty is non-negotiable and vowed to pursue a full Israeli withdrawal through negotiations.
  • Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem reiterated opposition to direct talks with Israel, asking, "If this government is incapable of guaranteeing sovereignty, it should go — where is the sovereignty if America runs the cogs of the Lebanese state?"
  • Lebanese health ministry figures put the death toll from Israeli strikes at 74 since the April 17 ceasefire, with 2,869 people displaced since March 2, including 584 medics, women, and minors.
  • An estimated 1.2 million people have been driven from their homes, many fleeing from the south.
  • Lebanon inaugurated its second international airport despite Hezbollah pressure, a development the Jerusalem Post noted as part of Lebanon's efforts to strengthen state institutions.

Perspectives

President Joseph Aoun (Lebanon): Aoun stresses that peace and sovereignty go hand in hand, demanding Israel's full withdrawal from the south as a non-negotiable condition. He has called on the US to pressure Israel to stop attacks and end home demolitions, framing the US as a mediator in the ongoing talks.

Hezbollah (Naim Qassem): Qassem rejects direct negotiations with Israel, arguing they undermine Lebanese sovereignty. He accused the US of controlling the Lebanese state and called the government's approach a failure if it cannot guarantee sovereignty.