Lebanon Presses for Inclusion in Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Israeli Escalation and Intensified Diplomatic Communications

SadaNews - Lebanese authorities reaffirmed today, Wednesday, the intensification of state efforts to ensure Lebanon's inclusion in a ceasefire, confirming the restriction of the decision on war and the use of legitimate force to state institutions. At the same time, the government is intensifying diplomatic and political communications to stop the ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have targeted densely populated residential areas, resulting in hundreds of martyrs and injured. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed today, Wednesday, the state's continuous efforts to have regional peace include Lebanon, expressing his welcome of the temporary ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Aoun praised, in a statement released by the presidency and reported by the official Lebanese news agency, the efforts of all parties that contributed to reaching this agreement, particularly the efforts of Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. Aoun expressed hope that the agreement would be "the first step towards a final and comprehensive agreement on various issues that constitute factors of explosion for our region, ensuring the sovereignty of each of its countries." He emphasized that "the goal of regimes and governments is to achieve the good of their people in a free and dignified life, not to lead them to senseless and gratuitous death." Aoun confirmed the continuation of Lebanese state efforts to ensure that regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and permanent manner, "in accordance with the principles agreed upon by the Lebanese, namely, the complete sovereignty of their state over all its territories and liberating it from any occupying presence, and restricting the right to war and peace and the use of legitimate force in the hands of its constitutional institutions alone, which is the sole responsibility of the Lebanese state in any negotiations to achieve the public Lebanese interest." Salam Calls on "Friends of Lebanon" to Help Stop Israeli Aggressions In this context, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that his government is working to intensify its communications and diplomatic and political efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon, following the announcement of the agreement between Washington and Tehran. Salam added in a statement reported by the official news agency that since the outbreak of the war imposed on Lebanon, its primary concern has been stopping the war. He continued: "With the announcement of the agreement between the United States and Iran, with appreciated Pakistani efforts, we are working to intensify our communications and political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon." He stressed that no one negotiates on behalf of Lebanon except the Lebanese state, through its constitutional institutions, which preserves its sovereignty and the interests of its people. Salam called on "friends of Lebanon" to intervene to help stop Israeli aggressions after a series of simultaneous airstrikes that resulted in hundreds of martyrs and injured across the country, according to an initial report by the Ministry of Health. Salam stated in a statement: "While we welcomed the agreement between Iran and the United States and intensified our efforts to reach an agreement to cease fire in Lebanon, Israel continues to expand its aggressions that have targeted densely populated neighborhoods, leading to the death of unarmed civilians across Lebanon, especially in the capital, Beirut." He added that "all friends of Lebanon are invited to assist us in stopping these aggressions by all available means." "A New Massacre Threatening the Region" The Lebanese presidency confirmed that the barbaric Israeli aggressions that have targeted various parts of the country since dawn Wednesday are a "serious escalation and a new massacre" adding to Tel Aviv's "black record" and threaten the stability of the region. This aggression comes as Iran, the Pakistani mediation, and the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire, while the Israeli army stated that it is not included and continued its aggression after the ceasefire began. The Lebanese presidency stated in a statement that "the barbaric aggressions that do not respect any agreements or commitments have repeatedly proven Israel's disregard for all international laws and norms." It pointed out that "over fifteen months of the ceasefire agreement (November 2024), a large number of violations and breaches have been recorded without any deterrent." It added that "the Israelis are once again intensifying their aggression, defying all humanitarian values and disregarding efforts aimed at calm and stability." The Lebanese presidency held Israel "fully responsible for the repercussions of this serious escalation." It confirmed that "the continuation of these aggressive policies will only lead to more tension and instability in the region." It emphasized that the region is "in urgent need of calm and respect for commitments." The Lebanese presidency called on the international community to "bear its responsibilities in stopping these repeated aggressions and putting an end to this approach that threatens security and stability." In contrast, a high-ranking official Lebanese source stated that President Aoun is conducting communications to ensure Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire agreement. The source said: "We have not received any clear position so far regarding (Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire agreement), and communications are still ongoing," as reported by the Anadolu Agency. Israel Justifies Its Aggression: Hezbollah Ministers Still Hold Positions in the Lebanese Government The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday evening, in English, justifying Tel Aviv's ongoing aggression, stating that "President (Aoun) and Prime Minister (Salam) do not shy away from attacking Israel for doing what they should have done: working against Hezbollah." It added that "after thousands of attacks on Israel from their territories, they do not apologize, but merely present demands. They have not disarmed Hezbollah, nor have they prevented him, nor will they prevent him from firing at Israel; they lied when they claimed to disarm the area up to the Litani River. And now, we must do it on their behalf." It mentioned that "Hezbollah ministers still hold positions in the Lebanese government, and the Iranian ambassador in Beirut continues to openly disregard their decisions, and it is time to start acting against Hezbollah, with actions, not words. And if you are unable to do so, at least do not stand in our way." On Wednesday morning, the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire, paving the way for a final agreement to stop the war that Washington and Tel Aviv started against Tehran on February 28, which resulted in thousands of dead and wounded. Conflicting information has circulated regarding whether the agreement also includes Lebanon, while the Pakistani mediation said that the ceasefire includes it; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considered that it does not include it, while as of now, "Hezbollah" is committed to it despite ongoing Israeli bombardment. The White House also announced that Lebanon is not included in the agreement. For its part, the Israeli army announced in a statement on Wednesday a ceasefire on Iran, stating that it "continues fighting and ground operations against Hezbollah."