Aoun warns against entangling Lebanon in war after US strikes on Iran
Aoun warns against entangling Lebanon in war after US strikes on Iran
President Joseph Aoun said Sunday that Lebanon does not want to 'pay the price of more wars' and that 'there is no national interest' in joining the Israel-Iran war after the U.S. strikes on Iran's key nuclear sites.
'Lebanon, with its leadership, parties and people, realizes today more than ever that it has preciously paid for the wars that erupted on its soil and in the region, and it does not want to pay any further and there is no national interest in that,' Aoun said.
'The cost of these wars has been and will be greater than it can bear,' the president warned.
Noting that 'the bombardment of the Iranian nuclear facilities increases the fear that the tensions could spread in a manner that threatens security and stability in many areas and countries,' Aoun urged 'restraint and the launch of constructive and serious negotiations to restore stability in the region's countries and avoid further killing and destruction.'
Aoun had earlier received a phone call from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and they discussed 'the dangerous developments in the region and the possible repercussions on Lebanon.'
'They agreed to keep communication channels open between them and to jointly work to spare Lebanon these situations, put the higher national interest first, and preserve unity and national solidarity,' the National News Agency said.
Salam also held phone talks with the ministers of defense and interior and the army chief in order to 'take the necessary security measures to preserve domestic stability and national security during this critical period.'
Lebanon's new leadership, which came after Israel and the Hezbollah's devastating war, has urged that the country avoid being dragged into more conflict as it tries to rebuild itself and pull itself from yearslong economic crisis. Hezbollah has not taken military action against Israel in solidarity with its key ally Iran in the conflict, but has not yet commented on Washington's overnight strikes.
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President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, considered that the recent escalation of Israeli-Iranian confrontations and the accelerating developments accompanying them, especially the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities at dawn today, are likely to raise the level of fear of expanding the scope of tension in a way that threatens security and stability in more than one region and country. He added that this calls for "self-restraint" and the launch of "constructive and serious negotiations" to restore stability to the countries of the region and avoid further killing and destruction, especially since this escalation could continue for a long period. President Aoun called on leaders of capable countries to intervene to put an end to what is happening before it is too late, pointing out that Lebanon, its leadership, parties and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that the country has paid a heavy price for the wars that broke out on its land and in the region, and is unwilling to pay more, for there is no national interest in doing so, particualrly since the cost of these wars is beyond what it can bear. Since dawn today, President Aoun has been closely monitoring the military developments resulting from the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. He has remained in contact with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, National Defense Minister Major General Michel Menassa, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, and security chiefs, stressing the need for taking necessary measures to maintain stability in the country.
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