Lebanese president hopes Washington meeting to lead to ceasefire with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun voiced hope on Monday for reaching a ceasefire with Israel during a planned meeting in Washington on Tuesday.

This came during Aoun’s meeting in Beirut with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during which the Lebanese president voiced hope Tuesday’s meeting “will result in a ceasefire in Lebanon with the aim of initiating direct negotiations” between the two countries, the presidency said in a statement.

“There is now an opportunity to reach a sustainable solution, which is what Lebanon wants,” Aoun said. “However, this cannot be a unilateral solution. Israel must respond to Lebanese, Arab, and international calls to halt its assaults against Lebanon and start negotiations.”

The Lebanese president said Israel's successive wars against Lebanon “have failed to achieve their objectives since 1982.”

"Israel's destruction of Lebanese territory and targeting of public and private institutions and government institutions is not the solution. However, diplomatic solutions have always been the best way to resolve armed conflicts worldwide," Aoun said.

Lebanese and Israeli government envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and launching direct talks.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground offensive across Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire deal that took effect in November 2024.

According to Lebanese health authorities, at least 2,089 people have since been killed and 6,762 others injured in the Israeli assault.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous conflict between October 2023 and November the following year.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul