Lebanese President: Ending Hostilities with Israel a Priority

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington/PHOTO: The White House

JAKARTA - Ending the hostilities between Lebanon and Israel is Beirut's main goal. This was stated by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday (21/7).

Aoun has been on an official visit to Washington since Sunday (19/7), which includes discussions with the US government on issues related to conflict resolution and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

"I really want to thank President Trump and his team for this historic visit and for the historic achievement we have achieved together through the signing of a framework aimed at ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever," Aoun said at the White House, reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Wednesday, July 22.

"It is time for Lebanon and the entire region to become stable and secure," he added.

Aoun said Beirut would abide by a framework agreement previously reached with Israel, which he said would not trigger civil war in Lebanon.

The framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in Washington on June 26 regulates the restoration of Lebanese army control over the country's southern region as well as the disarmament of Hezbollah.

The process will begin in a pilot zone that is the location of the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Despite this, Israel continues to launch attacks on Lebanon almost every day and maintains a military presence in the south, which has led to most of the local population being forced to flee.