Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Takes Effect, Lebanese President: Will Push for Permanent Agreement

BEIRUT (Central News Agency) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated today that Lebanon is moving towards a 'new phase' centered on a 'permanent agreement' after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah took effect. The day after US President Trump announced the ceasefire, Aoun delivered a strongly worded speech to the Lebanese people, declaring that Lebanon is no longer 'anyone's battlefield.' Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East conflict on March 2 when the Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel in retaliation for the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In his first national address after the ceasefire, Aoun stated: 'Now, we all stand at the threshold of a new phase... This is a phase of moving from working towards a ceasefire to promoting permanent agreements that will guarantee the rights of our people, the integrity of our territory, and national sovereignty.' He said that the Lebanese government, for the first time in nearly half a century, has 're-established control over Lebanon and its decision-making power.' Aoun stated: 'Today, we negotiate for ourselves... We are no longer pawns in anyone's game, nor are we anyone's battlefield, and we will never be again.' He also thanked 'all those who contributed to the ceasefire,' including Trump and Saudi Arabia. Trump announced the ceasefire yesterday on his social media platform 'Truth Social,' and later stated that Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit the White House 'within the next four to five days.' Aoun noted in his speech that direct negotiations with Israel 'are not a sign of weakness or concession... Negotiations do not, and never will, mean abandoning any rights, ceding any principles, or harming national sovereignty.' He emphasized: 'I hereby confirm... no agreement will infringe upon our national rights, weaken the dignity of our resilient people, or surrender an inch of our national territory.' Shortly before this ceasefire, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US held talks in Washington, their first direct meeting in decades. (Compiler: Hsu Rui-cheng) 1150418. Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.