Aoun calls for unity, says Lebanese tired of war and corruption
President Joseph Aoun called Tuesday for unity in Lebanon, saying that the Lebanese's greatest sin is dealing with foreign countries against each other.
"Let us draw strength from our unity," he said, hours before he left Beirut to Algeria for a two-day visit.
Aoun said progress has been made to put Lebanon back on the right track and that he understands the Lebanese's need for a state and for reforms after years of corruption and wars.
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Ya Libnan
30 minutes ago
- Ya Libnan
President Aoun says Lebanon determined to disarm Hezbollah
Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that he was determined to disarm Hezbollah, a step it has come under heavy US pressure to take, despite the group's protests that doing so would serve Israeli goals. Hezbollah and Israel fought a two-month war last year that left the militant group badly weakened, though it retains part of its arsenal. Israel has kept up its air strikes on Hezbollah targets despite a November ceasefire, and has threatened to continue them until the group has been disarmed. In a speech on Thursday, Aoun said Beirut was demanding 'the extension of the Lebanese state's authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups including Hezbollah and their handover to the Lebanese army'. He added it was every politician's duty 'to seize this historic opportunity and push without hesitation towards affirming the army and security forces' monopoly on weapons over all Lebanese territory… in order to regain the world's confidence'. Under the November ceasefire, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani river, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border. Israel was meant to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon, but has kept them in five areas it deems strategic. The truce was based on a two-decade-old UN Security Council resolution that said only the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers should possess weapons in the country's south, and that all non-state groups should be disarmed. However, that resolution went unfulfilled for years, with Hezbollah's arsenal before the latest war seen as far superior to the army's, and the group wielding extensive political influence. Aoun took over the presidency in January ending a two-year vacancy — his election by lawmakers made possible in part by the shifting balance of power in the wake of the conflict. On Wednesday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem , who fled to Tehran last October said that 'anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project'. He accused US envoy Tom Barrack, who has visited Lebanon several times in recent months, of using 'intimidation and threats' in his talks with senior officials with the aim of 'aiding Israel'. Collapse or stability Israel has carried out near daily strikes in Lebanon in recent months, targeting what it says are Hezbollah militants and infrastructure, but the group has refrained from striking back. Israel launched several strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in the south and east on Thursday, targeting what it said were sites used by Hezbollah to manufacture and store missiles. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the targets included 'Hezbollah's biggest precision missile manufacturing site', and the military said it had hit 'infrastructure that was used for producing and storing strategic weapons' in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. In his speech, Aoun said Lebanon was at 'a crucial stage that does not tolerate any sort of provocation from any side'. 'For the thousandth time, I assure you that my concern in having a (state) weapons monopoly comes from my concern to defend Lebanon's sovereignty and borders, to liberate the occupied Lebanese territories and build a state that welcomes all its citizens,' he said, addressing Hezbollah's supporters as an 'essential pillar' of society. Lebanon has proposed modifications to 'ideas' submitted by the United States on Hezbollah's disarmament, Aoun added, and a plan would be discussed at a cabinet meeting next week to 'establish a timetable for implementation'. Aoun also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of Lebanese prisoners and 'an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities'. 'Today, we must choose between collapse and stability,' he said. Hezbollah is the only group that held on to its weapons after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, doing so in the name of 'resistance' against Israel, which occupied south Lebanon until 2000. Lebanon has also committed to disarming Palestinian militant groups that control the country's refugee camps. A huge Burden for Lebanon Hezbollah's actions and influence are widely seen as a significant burden on Lebanon, contributing to the country's instability and economic hardship. The organization's military activities, particularly its conflict with Israel, have had devastating consequences for Lebanon, including displacement, casualties, and economic losses. Additionally, Hezbollah's political dominance and resistance to international involvement in Lebanon's economic crisis further exacerbate the situation. Here's a breakdown of why Hezbollah is considered a burden: 1. Military Conflict and Instability: 2. Economic Impact: 3. Political Obstacles: 4. Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis: In summary, Hezbollah's military activities, political influence, and resistance to international involvement have significantly contributed to Lebanon's instability, economic hardship, and humanitarian crisis France24/AFP/ YL
LBCI
13 hours ago
- LBCI
Political deliberations: Lebanese Cabinet to tackle controversial arms control
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi All eyes are on the Lebanese Cabinet's upcoming session scheduled for Tuesday, with a key agenda item set to address the contentious issue of exclusive control over weapons. The session may proceed in the absence of Ministers Yassine Jaber and Mohammad Haidar, both of whom are close to Hezbollah and currently abroad on pre-scheduled travel. Ministers are expected to continue discussions on the implementation of measures to assert state sovereignty across Lebanese territory using only national military forces. A government statement is anticipated following the session, reaffirming the principle of arms exclusivity under the Lebanese state, while also calling on Israel to cease its ongoing violations, withdraw from Lebanese territory, and release detainees. Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal is also expected to attend the session to present an overview of the Lebanese Armed Forces' efforts related to this matter and outline possible next steps toward arms collection. Following Tuesday's meeting, the issue may be referred to the Higher Defense Council for the development of an appropriate implementation mechanism. Leading up to the session, internal political consultations have intensified. The latest of these took place Thursday evening at Baabda Palace, where Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, met with President Joseph Aoun. According to LBCI's sources, Hezbollah expressed concern over recent presidential rhetoric, particularly references to the "withdrawal of Hezbollah's weapons." The meeting, described as constructive and flexible, was focused on clarifying key points and avoiding statements that could provoke internal tension. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of Israel's adherence to the ceasefire and withdrawal from Lebanese territory. With only days remaining before the Cabinet session, Lebanese leaders are expected to continue intensive consultations in hopes of reaching common ground on the arms exclusivity clause.
L'Orient-Le Jour
14 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Michel Pharaon launches initiative to disarm Beirut militias
Former Minister Michel Pharaon launched an initiative Friday to disarm militias in Beirut, ahead of a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday that will focus on restoring the state's monopoly over weapons. The initiative is clearly aimed at Hezbollah, even though the former minister did not explicitly name the party during his press conference in Beirut. "We are launching the 'Demilitarized Metropolitan Beirut' initiative, a move that should bring significant benefits to Lebanon, strengthen it, protect the southern suburb and ensure the security of the port and airport," Pharaon said. "I am calling to start with the disarmament of Beirut, because of the benefits it would bring and in order to remove the capital from any risk of attack, while the disarmament of the South and Bekaa is dragging on and facing obstacles," he added. "There is a fear of a return to war, but Lebanon has friends who help it defend its rights. The actions of the Israeli army are no longer acceptable," he continued. Since the cease-fire decreed at the end of November, which ended more than a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli army has been bombing southern Lebanon almost daily, sometimes extending its strikes to the Bekaa or Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel claims to be targeting men or equipment belonging to Hezbollah. While Israel reproaches the party for not handing over its weapons to the Lebanese state, Hezbollah, for its part, accuses the Israeli army of failing to respect its withdrawal commitments, still occupying several strategic points in southern Lebanon. "There will be no investment in Lebanon without guarantees in terms of security and justice. Today, we are trying to build a state according to the compass set out by the president of the republic in his inaugural address, but some parties still want to block this process," Pharaon also said. Just days before the fifth anniversary of the deadly explosion at Beirut's port, the former minister expressed hope that the indictment set to be issued by investigative judge Tarek Bitar will soon be published. "Major obstacles still stand before Judge Bitar and we are still living under the grip of the same system," he concluded.
