
The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, receiving the Vice President of the Higher Shiite Council at Baabda on Jan. 14, 2025. (Credit: X/@LBPresidency)
President Joseph Aoun hosted a delegation of Shiite dignitaries on Tuesday, led by Sheikh Ali Khatib, vice president of the Supreme Shiite Council. He assured them the Lebanese state would take full responsibility for the country’s defense, declaring no group could shoulder this burden alone.
"If the state and army had been present in the past, resistance would not have been necessary," Aoun said in a statement from the presidency. "Today, defending Lebanon is a duty shared by the state and all its people. No single group can bear this alone, as the consequences would affect all of Lebanon."
In his inaugural address, Aoun pledged to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression and reaffirmed the state's exclusive authority over weapons—a stance warmly received by most lawmakers, though not by Hezbollah, which champions its "army-people-resistance" doctrine.
Weapons debate and calls for unity
Sheikh Khatib responded, saying, "Weapons are not sacred to us, but the unity of the country, the dignity of the people, and stability are." He emphasized the importance of Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, adherence to the cease-fire, reconstruction, and the return of displaced individuals to their homes.
Aoun reiterated Lebanon's efforts to press for Israeli withdrawal and deploy the Lebanese Army in the South. "As someone from the South, I refrained from holding congratulatory receptions at Baabda on the day of my election, in honor of the martyrs of Israeli aggression," he noted.
The president also underscored the urgency of forming a government, emphasizing the importance of sending positive signals to the international community. "Reconstruction is critical, and establishing a government promptly is key to securing aid for this purpose," Aoun said.
Meetings with officials and government formation
Tuesday’s events included meetings with key figures. Aoun met with Nawaf Salam, former president of the International Court of Justice, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to confirm Salam’s designation as prime minister tasked with forming a government.
Earlier, Aoun held discussions with Supreme Judicial Council President Souheil Abboud, Acting General Security Director Elias Baissari, and Internal Security Forces Director Imad Osman.