Aoun urges talks to secure Lebanon's full sovereignty, demands Israeli exit

Key developments

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Tuesday that negotiations remain the most appropriate route to protect Lebanon’s national interests, while stressing an uncompromising commitment to full sovereignty and the rejection of any occupation or foreign tutelage. He said recent events have affirmed the validity of pursuing talks as the internationally recognized means to safeguard the country’s interests and expressed hope the new round of discussions will deliver decisive results for the Lebanese people.

Aoun underlined that the central objective is to re-establish absolute Lebanese sovereignty over all territories and to extend state authority across the entire country without exception. A new round of direct bilateral talks between Lebanon and Israel opened in the United States on Tuesday; Lebanon has maintained firm demands, most prominently the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas they entered during the recent war, as reported by SANA