Lebanon's Aoun Calls for EU Pressure on Israel to Secure

President Joseph Aoun met with European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, on Wednesday. During the meeting, Aoun declared that support from European Union states for Lebanon must be channeled into pressuring Israel to halt its fire, stop demolishing and bulldozing homes in occupied southern villages, and cease targeting medics, journalists, and civil defense personnel.

The president stressed that Lebanon is committed to a cessation of hostilities and all military operations as a prerequisite for launching negotiations. These talks, he said, aim to resolve the volatile situation in the south, paving the way for the Lebanese army to redeploy up to the international border, secure the release of Lebanese prisoners, and allow displaced residents to return to their towns and villages.

Aoun highlighted the heavy human toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon, noting that the need for relief for the displaced is growing daily. He appealed to friendly and sister nations to provide urgent humanitarian and developmental aid.

Expressing gratitude, Aoun thanked the European Union for its consistent responsiveness to Lebanon's needs and for the bloc's commitment to full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory. He added that the Lebanese people stand united against current challenges, firmly holding onto their unity and collectively resisting any attempts to sow discord among them.