Lebanon Sheds Pawn Role As Ceasefire Holds, Leader Says

Joseph Aoun said on Friday that Lebanon would no longer serve as “an arena for anyone’s wars”, as he signalled a shift from a fragile ceasefire with Israel toward the pursuit of more lasting arrangements.

In a televised address, Aoun told citizens that Lebanon was determined to move beyond years of regional entanglements and internal vulnerability. He said the country would no longer be used as a battleground for external conflicts or political rivalries.

His remarks came a day after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect, offering a pause in hostilities that escalated earlier this month. The latest round of violence began on March 2, after the armed group Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory, prompting a series of Israeli strikes that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 2,200 people and displaced over one million.

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Aoun said Lebanon was now entering what he described as a transitional phase, moving from immediate efforts to maintain the ceasefire toward negotiations aimed at securing longer-term agreements. He said any such arrangements would be designed to safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

He stressed that diplomacy should not be interpreted as weakness, adding that the government would not accept any outcome that compromises the country’s rights or leads to the loss of its land.

The president also outlined key objectives for the next phase, including ending Israeli military actions on Lebanese territory, securing a withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas in the south, and extending the authority of the Lebanese state across all its territory. He added that efforts would also focus on securing the release of detainees and enabling displaced families to return safely to their homes.

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Despite the ceasefire, Israeli troops remain in parts of southern Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces would not withdraw during the truce, raising questions about how quickly de-escalation can be translated into lasting stability.

Aoun acknowledged the role of international and regional actors in brokering the ceasefire, expressing gratitude to Donald Trump