Lebanese President: We Have No Choice but to Negotiate

SadaNews - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed today, Monday, that the option of negotiation remains safer than war, although the negotiation process may take time and does not yield immediate results, adding "We have no choice."

Aoun explained during his meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese private sector network that negotiation does not mean surrender or concession, but is a means to avoid wars and achieve solutions with the least possible losses.

The Lebanese President also pointed out that the Lebanese army has not declared that the southern region is completely free of weapons, noting that what has been achieved is an "operational control" of the army over the area, while the process of evacuating the south from weapons needs time due to the complex geographical nature of the area, which includes mountains and valleys.

He added that the army continues to carry out its tasks in this regard, within the available capabilities and current circumstances.

Moreover, Aoun highlighted that the rockets launched at the beginning of the war came from areas north of the Litani River, noting that the Israeli side has not fully complied with the ceasefire agreement, which called for its withdrawal from the five points it occupied, but continued its military operations and bombarded villages under the pretext of "self-defense," as he put it.

"No Calm in Beirut"

The Lebanese President's statements came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that there would be no calm in the Lebanese capital if Hezbollah's attacks continued, indicating that his country would establish a military-controlled area around the Litani River in southern Lebanon.

Katz stated in a release from his office, "The southern suburbs of Beirut are no different from towns in northern Israel. If there is no calm in the north, there will be no calm in Beirut."