Lebanese President Says Only Solution Is Ceasefire and Direct Dialogue with Israel

JAKARTA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday that the only solution to ending the war with Israel is an immediate ceasefire followed by direct talks with the neighboring country.

"The only solution to the situation experienced by Lebanon is through a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, followed by direct negotiations," President Aoun told a delegation visiting the presidential palace, quoted by Al Arabiya (10/4).

President Aoun said he was in intensive contact to discuss the proposal, which he said had received "significant" and "positive" attention from the international community.

President Aoun's comments came a day after Israel launched its most intensive bombing in Lebanon, killing more than 200 people and wounding more than 1,000 others.

Israel launched an attack on Lebanon hours after a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran was announced. Israel said Lebanon was not included in the deal.

The bombing came after Israel said it backed US President Donald Trump's decision to declare a ceasefire, but not in Lebanon.

The Israeli military (IDF) which resumed its attacks on Lebanon on March 2, attacked Lebanon on Wednesday under the pretext of targeting the Hezbollah group.

"The terrorist activity of Hezbollah forces the IDF to act decisively against it. The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must immediately evacuate your home," said IDF spokesman Avichaya Adraee, quoted by The Telegraph.

President Aoun said international efforts were underway to include Lebanon in the US-Iranian ceasefire, which Washington said would not happen.

He reiterated his support for Lebanon's security institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"I have said and repeated: I will not allow internal disputes to occur, and everyone must have confidence in the state and its legitimate power, because there is no security without it," he said.