Lebanon's president says talks progressing, vows no Israeli presence on Lebanese land

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Tuesday that discussions are advancing and affirmed that Israel will not be permitted to occupy any Lebanese land. He deemed negotiations as preferable to the catastrophic outcomes of war for Lebanon. Aoun mentioned that Israeli assaults on Lebanon have diminished since the framework agreement was ratified, which has aided the return of Lebanese expatriates to their country for the summer.

In a session with a delegation from the Maronite Foundation led by Rose Choueiri, Aoun confirmed that all Lebanese are in agreement on the objectives of Israeli withdrawal, the release of detainees, and the reconstruction of damaged areas. He emphasized that ultimately, Israel will not be permitted to remain on even a fraction of Lebanese territory, nor will a single Israeli soldier be allowed to stay on their soil.

The president stressed that it is time for the residents of southern Lebanon to settle in their homeland, rather than enduring ongoing conflicts in their name for foreign interests. He reaffirmed that his top priority is to rebuild the state, regardless of the expenses, despite opposition from those he described as trying to undermine the state's foundations and hinder its reconstruction.