Lebanese President: Will "Do Everything Possible" to Stop Israel's War Against Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on the 18th local time that he will "do everything possible" to stop Israel's war against Lebanon and its people "in the least costly way," in order to prevent the country from falling into a larger conflict.

According to a statement from the Lebanese presidential office, Aoun made this remark during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Agricultural Union at the Baabda Palace.

Aoun said that the conditions set by Lebanon for the ceasefire negotiations with Israel include the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories, achieving a ceasefire, the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border, the return of displaced Lebanese citizens to their homes, and providing economic and financial assistance to Lebanon. Aoun emphasized that "any statement to the contrary is not true."

Under U.S. mediation, the Israeli and Lebanese sides held two rounds of ambassador-level talks in Washington on April 14 and 23. A temporary ceasefire began on April 17 for a duration of 10 days, and U.S. President Trump announced on April 23 that the ceasefire would be extended for three weeks. On May 15, the Lebanese side stated that the third round of talks held in Washington among Lebanon, the U.S., and Israel achieved "diplomatic progress favorable to Lebanon," and all parties agreed to extend the ceasefire for another 45 days.

Since the ceasefire took effect, the Israeli military has conducted airstrikes almost daily in southern Lebanon, citing violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah, and has dismantled and destroyed what it calls "Hezbollah military infrastructure" in the areas of southern Lebanon it occupies.