
Lebanese President Aoun arrives in Paris for brief visit at Macron's invitation
He was joined by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.
The visit will last a few hours amid ongoing discussions on bilateral relations and regional developments.

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LBCI
10 hours ago
- LBCI
Army Day address: Lebanese President Aoun outlines achievements and challenges
English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Marking Lebanon's Army Day, President Joseph Aoun addressed the nation with a firm declaration of his commitment to implementing the principles laid out in his oath of office, vowing to carry them out "without amendment or change." His remarks come amid mounting international pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah. While reiterating his long-standing position that arms must be solely in the hands of the Lebanese state, the president also stressed Lebanon's right to resist ongoing Israeli violations and insisted on Israel's withdrawal from remaining occupied Lebanese territories. He noted that defending Lebanese sovereignty and maintaining internal peace remain top priorities of his presidency. The speech also served as a review of achievements made during his term despite numerous challenges. President Aoun highlighted three main pillars of progress: First, he pointed to his anti-corruption drive, which has led to the lifting of political protections for several officials accused of misconduct. Multiple ministers were detained, banking figures were prosecuted for embezzlement, and judges were referred for disciplinary action. Oversight bodies were also strengthened. Second, he spoke about the reactivation of Lebanon's public administration. Long-stalled state institutions saw a wave of appointments, including regulatory bodies in key sectors that had been run in caretaker capacities for years. Third, President Aoun emphasized his efforts to restore Lebanon's ties with the Arab world and the international community. Diplomatic outreach led to increased visits from Arab and European officials, the lifting of travel bans to Lebanon, and the reopening of embassies. He noted that this renewed engagement laid the groundwork for economic, agricultural, and healthcare cooperation, with hopes of broader Arab support for Lebanon's post-war reconstruction.


L'Orient-Le Jour
12 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Israeli army says it targeted 'Hezbollah military sites' in south and Bekaa
The Israeli army said Thursday it targeted "infrastructure that was used for producing and storing strategic weapons," after a series of strikes carried out on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. According to L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the region, the Israeli strikes hit Mahmoudieh, near the Lebanese Army checkpoint at the Khardali Bridge, the outskirts of Aishieh, and the village of Jarmuq (Sour). In the Bekaa, L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent reported that the bombings struck the Brital Heights (Baalbeck) and the surroundings of Nabi Sreij. In a statement, the Israeli military saidf it launched a series of strikes on sites belonging to Hezbollah and targeted "explosive manufacturing sites" as well as an "underground site for the production and storage of strategic weapons." It also accused the party of trying to rebuild its infrastructure. 'The largest missile production site' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army had attacked "the largest site for the production of Hezbollah precision missiles in Lebanon," according to Haaretz. "Any attempt by the organization to rebuild, reestablish, or threaten will be met with relentless force," he said. According to the statement, this site had been previously targeted. "The Lebanese government is responsible for preventing any violation of the cease-fire agreement. We will not allow Hezbollah to threaten the residents of northern Israel," he added. These strikes come as the international community continues to press for Hezbollah's disarmament. On Thursday, President Joseph Aoun once again called for exclusive control of arms "from today" by the army and Lebanese security forces, while urging Hezbollah's opponents to avoid "provocations." Militarily weakened by its 13-month war with Israel, the party is conditioning any concessions regarding its weapons on clear guarantees concerning the intentions of Israel and the United States. The cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, in effect since Nov. 27, calls for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, where they still occupy five positions and conduct strikes nearly every day. On the Lebanese side, the agreement was to lead to the disarmament of Hezbollah, first south of the Litani River, then across the country, as mandated by U.N. Resolution 1701, which provided the framework for the truce deal — a provision the party rejects. Israeli attacks in Lebanon over the past eight months have killed at least 285, according to a L'Orient-Le Jour and United Nations count.


L'Orient-Le Jour
12 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Meeting with Aoun, head of Centcom welcomes the deployment of the army in southern Lebanon
President Joseph Aoun met Thursday with the head of the U.S. Middle East Command (Centcom), General Michael Kurilla, who welcomed the army's deployment in southern Lebanon following the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah. This visit comes on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army, and at a time when the issue of disarming Hezbollah is causing tensions in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese presidency, the meeting focused on "President Aoun's consistent positions regarding the arms monopoly and the reactions to this issue, both domestically and internationally." The president stressed "the need to strengthen American support for the Lebanese army, which alone reflects the Lebanese people's desire to see their country free, sovereign, and independent." Strengthening military cooperation The two officials also discussed the situation in southern Lebanon. General Kurilla praised "what the Lebanese army has accomplished so far, following its deployment in most of the southern towns and villages," stating that he expected the end of this deployment after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which maintain a presence at five points they consider strategic. He also congratulated Aoun for Army Day, before discussing the existing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the American military, as well as ways to develop it in all areas. The two men finally discussed the situation in Syria and the evolution of relations between the two countries. On Thursday, Aoun gave a speech on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army, in which he expressed the hope that the military and security forces would be the only ones to hold a monopoly on weapons "throughout Lebanese territory" and "from today onwards," sending messages both to Hezbollah, which he called on with its base to "take a gamble on the Lebanese state," and to its detractors, whom he urged to avoid "provocation and escalation." Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Army commander General Rodolphe Haykal also met the head of Centcom. According to a statement on the Lebanese army's X account, the two generals discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation between the Lebanese and American armies. On Wednesday, Haykal reiterated his commitment to "preserving national unity " and stressed that "the army will not tolerate any attempt to drag Lebanon into sedition."