Khaberni - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Hezbollah of seeking to "bring down the state of Lebanon" to serve Iran's interests, warning that launching rockets from Lebanese territory towards Israel aims to drag the country into a devastating war.
Aoun stated during a virtual meeting with leaders from the European Union and regional countries that Lebanon is facing an attempt to "be squeezed between an Israeli aggression that does not respect international laws, and an armed faction outside the state that disregards Lebanon’s interest".
He added that more than 600,000 Lebanese were displaced due to the escalation, while more than 400 people including children and women were killed, and over 1,100 others injured in just a few days.
Aoun observed that launching six rockets from Lebanon into Israel at the beginning of March "did not alter the balance of confrontation," considering it a "trap to lure the Israeli army to penetrate deep into Lebanon" and putting the state before two options: face a devastating war, or appear incapacitated, which in both cases leads to undermining the state.
He pointed out that those who launched the rockets "want to buy the fall of the Lebanese state under aggression and chaos for the accounts of the Iranian regime," affirming that the Lebanese authorities are working to thwart this course.
President Aoun revealed that his government has decided to ban any military or security activity by Hezbollah, calling on the international community to support the Lebanese army; to enforce state control and disarm the party.
Aoun also proposed initiating a comprehensive truce and starting direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under international sponsorship; to achieve a final cessation of hostilities and permanent security arrangements on the borders.
Since Saturday, February 28, Israel and the United States have been conducting airstrikes on Iran, resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and since then Tehran has been retaliating by striking Israel and countries in the region with missiles and drones.
Iran has implemented a naval embargo on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and targeted oil tankers attempting to pass through it.
On March 1, Hezbollah launched several rockets from Lebanon targeting northern Israel, in response to the assassination of Khamenei, drawing Lebanon into an open war with Israel, where the latter conducted devastating raids on southern Lebanon and the Southern Suburb of Beirut.
