As a new round of talks between the countries opened, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Beirut would “not accept less than the end of the ‘Israeli occupation’ in the south of the country.” He added that this additional negotiating round “may be decisive.”
Aoun’s remarks came at the start of the latest discussions, underscoring Lebanon’s insistence that any outcome must include a complete end to what he described as Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon. The president framed the talks as potentially pivotal, though he did not provide further details about their format, location, or timetable.
The statement signals that Lebanon is entering the negotiations with a firm red line, making the status of southern Lebanon the central issue in the talks. Aoun’s language suggests Beirut is seeking a definitive result rather than a partial arrangement.