Lebanon's president working to turn the ceasefire into permanent agreements

Today we negotiate for ourselves. We decide for ourselves. We are no longer a pawn in someone's pocket. Nor an arena for someone's war. And we will never be again, Aoun said in the speech, according to the Lebanese presidential office.

He does not mention the Shiite militia Hezbollah, but speaks of the need for unity and loyalty to a single state and a single armed force that will protect all Lebanese.

The goal is to “stop the Israeli attack,” achieve an Israeli withdrawal and the exercise of state authority over its entire territory, Aoun emphasizes, continuing:

And the return of our people to their homes and villages, full of security, freedom and dignity.