Aoun Pressures Washington to Halt Israeli Escalation

According to sources close to the Lebanese presidency, President Aoun "conducted intensive communications with the American side to pressure Israel into halting the military campaign it is leading," noting in statements to "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" that the American side "also carried out its own communications with the Israeli side." The outreach included the U.S. ambassador in Beirut, Michel Aoun, and Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Maouche, who also contacted the American side to contain the Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon has no leverage to stop Israeli attacks except through communication with the American side, which remains the sole diplomatic channel available to exert pressure on Tel Aviv to halt firing, land clearing, and escalating demolition operations in villages across southern Lebanon.

Lebanon awaits a decisive response from the American side by the end of this week regarding the timing of the eighth round of negotiations with Israel, which are expected to be held this month in Rome, Italy. Lebanon reaffirms its demands in these talks, which include a ceasefire, withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, and the return of prisoners.