President Aoun says Lebanon seeks ceasefire deal in Washington meeting with US and Israeli envoys

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that Lebanon hopes an upcoming meeting in Washington between Lebanese, U.S., and Israeli envoys will lead to a ceasefire in Lebanon, paving the way for direct negotiations with Israel aimed at ending hostilities and stabilizing Lebanon’s south and the country as a whole.

Speaking during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at Baabda Palace, Aoun said there is “a current opportunity to reach a sustainable solution, which Lebanon seeks,” stressing that such an outcome cannot be one-sided and requires Israel to respond to Lebanese, Arab, and international calls to halt its strikes and enter negotiations.

He said successive Israeli wars against Lebanon, from 1982 to the present, have failed to achieve their objectives, adding that the destruction of Lebanese areas “is not a solution” and will not yield results, as diplomatic options have always proven to be the best path in armed conflicts worldwide.

Aoun welcomed Italy’s willingness to host direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, emphasizing that talks with Israel are conducted solely by the Lebanese state as a sovereign matter, with no other party authorized to represent it.

He also announced that Lebanon has implemented a series of security measures at Beirut’s airport and at land and maritime border crossings to prevent arms smuggling and the flow of illicit funds. He said the Lebanese army and other security forces are strictly enforcing the law to prevent breaches that could undermine national stability.