Lebanese President Aoun: Goal Is Israeli Withdrawal - Not Disarming
Hezbollah
Dr. Aaron Lerner 17 April 2026

As President Aoun sees it, the goal of the talks with Israel is to have them
withdraw and resolve border disputes (aka - have Israel withdraw form parts
of Israel).

Please note that MP Ghassan Hasbani, who is quoted below saying "we affirmed
that when Beirut is safe we will have a launch for all of Lebanon safe and
free of weapons" does not represent the government or the presidency. He is
an opposition MP.

In sharp contrast, the most that President Aoun is willing to say is that
"the Lebanese Army will play a fundamental role after the withdrawal of the
Israeli forces in terms of deployment up to the international southern
borders and ending the armed manifestations and reassuring the southerners
after their return to their villages and towns, that there are no armed
forces other than the army and the legitimate security forces."

So President Aoun won't even talk about disarming Hezbollah in general. And
when it comes to South Lebanon, the goal that "that there are no armed
forces other than the army and the legitimate security forces" is almost an
afterthought.

If President Trump is serious about resolving the situation and not a photo
op, he should endorse achieving MP Ghassan Hasbani's goal of disarming
Hezbollah everywhere in Lebanon.

First: Disarm Hezbollah in the Beirut area.

Second: Disarm Hezbollah in other areas not now under the control of the
IDF.

Only then: Replacement of IDF forces with Lebanese Army forces in a
systematic polygon-by-polygon approach.

English translation of official Lebanese report of Pres. Aoun's remarks
regarding ceasefire
https://www.presidency.gov.lb/posts/reys-aljmhwryh-amam-wfd-mn-nwab-byrwt-mq
arbh-mrhlh-ma-bad-wqf-atlaq-alnar-tttlb-whdh-fy-almwaqf-alwtnyh-wtdhamna-sya
sya-jamaa-ma-aldwlh-lan-almfawdhat-almbashrh-dqyqh-wmfslyh-j93261938403019
(Website of the Lebanon Presidency)
Official private meetings 17 April 2026

President of the Republic before a delegation of Beirut MPs: The approach to
the post-ceasefire phase requires unity in national positions and
comprehensive political solidarity with the state because the direct
negotiations are delicate and pivotal.

President Aoun: The ceasefire is the gateway to proceeding with the
negotiations and an option that receives local and external support.

President of the Republic: National responsibility must be one in the next
phase and the Lebanese are today facing a new reality that has received Arab
and international support.

MP Hasbani: We sensed from His Excellency the President that there is
seriousness and solid sponsorship for the issue of negotiations and we
affirmed that when Beirut is safe we will have a launch for all of Lebanon
safe and free of weapons.

MP Khalaf: President Aoun affirmed that the opportunity that Lebanon has
reached through the ceasefire is a pivotal and essential station in a path
that awaits it to achieve greater stability for this tormented homeland.

President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun affirmed during his reception
of a delegation of Beirut MPs that the direct negotiations are delicate and
pivotal and that national responsibility must be one in the next phase, and
that the eyes of the world are directed towards Lebanon, stressing that the
goal of the Lebanese state from the negotiations is to consolidate the
ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied southern
territories and the recovery of the prisoners and the resolution of the
disputes occurring between Lebanon and Israel on a number of border points.

And President Aoun informed the parliamentary delegation that the approach
to the post-ceasefire phase requires unity in national positions and
comprehensive political solidarity with the state so that the ability of the
Lebanese team to achieve what the negotiations aimed for is not weakened,
especially with regard to consolidating the ceasefire which is considered
the gateway to proceeding with the negotiations and it is an option that
receives local and external support, the most prominent manifestations of
which was what US President Donald Trump announced during the phone call
yesterday of support for Lebanon and its sovereignty and independence and
the safety of its lands, in addition to the United States standing by the
Lebanese people to end their suffering and regain their well-being and
reactivate their economy which was negatively affected as a result of the
recent war.

And President Aoun affirmed that the Lebanese Army will play a fundamental
role after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces in terms of deployment up to
the international southern borders and ending the armed manifestations and
reassuring the southerners after their return to their villages and towns,
that there are no armed forces other than the army and the legitimate
security forces.

And President Aoun stressed that the Lebanese who have endured a lot in the
past years are today facing a new reality that has received Arab and
international support and this opportunity must not be wasted because it may
not be repeated.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il