Lebanese President Joseph Aoun participates in a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, on March 28, 2025. (Credit: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun affirmed Monday that "the hand that threatens civil peace will be cut off," adding that "security services are taking firm measures to prevent any security breaches through arrests and the confiscation of weapons."
Aoun assured that "no one in Lebanon wants the outbreak of a civil war." He noted that "the situation in the south is tragic due to serious violations committed by Israel," highlighting "ongoing international contacts to achieve negotiations with the Israeli side."
His comments come at a time when Lebanon is experiencing renewed concerns due to the planned disarmament of Hezbollah demanded by the government, and waves of mass displacement of predominantly Shiite residents from southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
According to official figures, Israeli attacks against Lebanon have killed more than 1,240 people, wounded over 3,540, and displaced more than a million residents since March 2. To try to end the war, Aoun is proposing direct negotiations with Israel, as Hezbollah prioritizes fighting on the ground.
'Calculations that go beyond Lebanon’s interests'
On Monday, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam hosted a delegation from the village of Borgholieh (Sour), led by municipal president Mohammad Khodr al-Daoud, he stated that "the fate of the Lebanese must not remain subject to calculations that go beyond the interests of Lebanon and its people."
He praised the resilience of residents of southern localities who refuse to leave their homes despite Israeli threats and warnings. "The resilience of these southern villages represents that of all Lebanese," he said, assuring that the state stands with the people of southern Lebanon and is working to ensure aid delivery.
The same day, ministers met at the Grand Serail to review the general situation, focusing on military and security developments as well as the needs of the displaced. After the meeting, Information Minister Paul Morcos said that participants judged that the scale of needs way surpasses the current level of aid being provided. He also warned against the rise of sectarian and inflammatory rhetoric, especially on social media.
Morcos also addressed repeated attacks against journalists, two days after four were killed in a targeted Israeli strike on their vehicle in Jezzine. He stated that the Ministry is closely following this issue and that the government, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, has been called upon on to take action.
Regarding fuel, participants assured that diesel would be delivered to its beneficiaries, with strict measures to combat fraud in its distribution. Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar reported arrests related to diesel diversion, as well as efforts to combat pick-pocketing. He also denied, according to comments reported by al-Jadeed TV, any presence of weapons in centers sheltering the displaced.
For her part, Social Development Minister Haneen Sayed indicated that the current level of aid remains below that of previous conflicts, stressing the need to strengthen international support to meet constantly increasing needs.
All of that for Iran. Why can lebanese fight for Palestine, Iran or Syria but are incapable of fighting for themselves. Lebanese dont want Israel, Iran or Syria. They just want Lebanon.
30 March 2026 20:57