Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says Beirut wants to negotiate a security agreement with Israel after its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while insisting that Hezbollah’s weapons must be brought under state control without triggering a confrontation.
In an exclusive interview with AFP ahead of his visit to France on Wednesday, Aoun said Lebanon had “no choice but negotiations” because war would be too costly for the country.
He said a security agreement with Israel should initially focus on ending the state of hostility and securing the border, potentially paving the way for a future peace agreement.
“We cannot jump directly to a peace agreement,” Aoun said.
Aoun calls for temporary force in south
Aoun also called for the creation of a temporary international force to prevent a security vacuum in southern Lebanon after the UN peacekeeping mission there ends its mandate at the end of the year.
“What matters is that there is no vacuum,” he told AFP.
He said the force could be European, American, Asian, Arab or a combination of countries and would remain in place only until the Lebanese army is capable of deploying throughout the area.
The UN peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL, has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978. The UN Security Council voted in 2025 to end its mandate following pressure from the United States.
Aoun is due to attend a meeting in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Jordanian King Abdullah II. The meeting will seek international support for the Lebanese army as it expands its deployment across the country.
Aoun urged the US, European Union and Arab countries to help strengthen Lebanon’s military and state institutions.
Hezbollah disarmament to be peaceful
Aoun reiterated that Lebanon is determined to disarm Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group that has long maintained its own military capabilities alongside the Lebanese state.
He described the decision as “neither negotiable nor open to discussion,” but said the government does not want to achieve it through confrontation.
“The objective is not a confrontation,” Aoun said. “We are determined to resolve this issue peacefully.”
He said the process should not come at the cost of “a bloody conflict” or another civil war.
Aoun also said Lebanon’s international partners must share responsibility for strengthening the Lebanese army and state.
“Our Arab and European partners, as well as the United States and our friends, must share with us the responsibility of supporting the army and strengthening the Lebanese state,” he said.
