Lebanon's Aoun Says Israeli Exit Key to Disarming Hezbollah

(MENAFN) Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared Tuesday that an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanese soil would strip away the last remaining justification for armed groups operating outside state authority — his most direct public linkage yet between Israeli occupation and the politically explosive question of Hezbollah's weapons.

Aoun made the remarks during a meeting at the Lebanese presidency with a European parliamentary delegation headed by French lawmaker Arnaud Le Gall, chair of the French-Lebanese Friendship Committee.

"Israel's withdrawal would allow Lebanon to extend its authority, end armed manifestations and remove any justification for the existence of weapons other than those of the state," said Aoun.

The president underscored that addressing Hezbollah's arsenal demanded a comprehensive approach — political, military, economic and social — in order to safeguard Lebanon's fragile stability across all fronts.

Washington Talks and a Fragile Ceasefire
Aoun also briefed the European delegation on ongoing Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations in Washington, outlining the core principles guiding Beirut's negotiating team as it works toward a durable end to hostilities with Israel.

Last week, the United States, Lebanon and Israel announced a declaration of intent following four rounds of Washington talks, charting a path toward a full Hezbollah ceasefire and the withdrawal of its fighters from areas south of the Litani River. Aoun had previously described the emerging outcome as containing "very important points" in Lebanon's favour and characterised it as a final opportunity to secure a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

Yet violence has not abated. Israeli strikes have continued despite a fragile ceasefire that took hold on April 17 and was subsequently extended through early July.

A Mounting Human Toll
The human cost of Israel's expanded military campaign — which intensified on March 2 — has been severe. Lebanese authorities report more than 3,660 people killed and upward of 11,300 wounded, with over one million displaced from their homes across the country.

Hezbollah, for its part, has resisted all pressure to disarm, maintaining that its weapons serve as an indispensable deterrent against Israeli occupation — a position that has long deadlocked Lebanon's internal debate over state sovereignty and the monopoly on armed force.

Call for Stronger EU Engagement
Turning to the broader bilateral relationship, Aoun appealed for deeper European Union support for Lebanon's army, security institutions and battered economy. He also argued that Beirut's ongoing efforts to stem the flow of Syrian refugees toward Europe warranted significantly greater financial and political backing from the bloc in return.

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