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⚡️ Take a look at what happened in Lebanon over the past day, as talks were scheduled to be held in Rome, the US discussed pilot zones with Lebanon, and other developments.
⚡️ President Joseph Aoun held a press conference to outline his political vision before an upcoming US visit, telling journalists the war option had proven fruitless, and positioning negotiations backed by US guarantees as the necessary path forward.
🔹 Aoun said Hezbollah’s objectives mirrored Lebanon’s for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, body returns, and reconstruction.
🔹 However, Aoun said the difference lied ‘in the means,’ warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran consistently act to disrupt efforts.
🔹 The framework agreement offered a 50% success rate under an American guarantor, while Lebanon held off naming representatives tot he post-Islamabad memorandum committee pending official requests from the United States.
🔹 Aoun said he’ll inform President Trump that managing Hezbollah’s weapons requires an internal comprehensive strategy addressing the root cause.
🔹 The President said Hezbollah was not just a weapon but an environment, warning that the party’s non-cooperation proved ‘Iranian allegiance.’
🔹 Aoun also said that criticism of direct talks with Israel did not deserve a response: “Lebanon has engaged in direct negotiations with Israel since 1949, and I will not back down from the decision,” he said.
🔹 President Aoun said he’d continue to explain the importance of the path and Lebanon’s commitment to its sovereignty at every step.
🔹 “Things are gradually moving toward a resolution, and all the criticism directed at this stems from a desire to turn the Lebanese file back into a card in Iran’s hands,” he added.
⚡️ Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived in Turkey accompanied by his wife, Ambassador Sahar Baassiri, where he received an official welcome at Istanbul Airport.
🔹 Salam arrived ahead of a scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday evening for a private dinner.
🔹 Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected reports of Syrian involvement regarding assistance in dealing with Hezbollah, which came after claims by President Donald Trump that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made related pledges to him.
🔹 Berri clarified all maters were explicitly reviewed during his meeting last week with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
🔹 During the Turkish visit, Berri met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, addressing bilateral relations across economic, commercial, investment, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
🔹 Both sides agreement to revive the path of a free trade agreement and complete technical consultations to enhance trade volume, as Salam commended humanitarian support by Turkiye to Lebanon.
🔹 Later at the dinner, Salam affirmed Lebanon adhered to independence of decision-making and extending full sovereignty, while Erdogan renewed commitment supporting efforts to halt Israeli aggression and secure withdrawal from all territories.
🔹 Erdogan said both sides agreed to activate cooperation mechanisms via reciprocal ministerial visits.
⚡️ Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah called on the Lebanese government to withdraw from the framework agreement on Friday, saying it was written by Israel.
🔹 Fadlallah accused the government of being led to Washington to sign a deal that undermined sovereignty, placed Lebanon under US-Israeli tutelage, and prevented it from pursuing Israel in international courts, adding that the agreement only spoke of redeployment rather than full withdrawal, allowing Israel to maintain a presence.
⚡️ Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea, following a ‘Strong Republic’ delegation visit to President Aoun, declared that ‘President, the government, and the parliament’ must act as a universal reference.
🔹 Geagea said a ‘real state cannot exist without one weapon and one army’ and required all groups to bear responsibility without exclusion or limitation.’
🔹 “We urged President Aoun to continue with the framework agreement,” Geagea said, adding: “We are not fond of this agreement, but we have no option left.”
⚡️ A US military delegation met with Lebanese Army commander General Rudolph Haykal to negotiate the implementation steps required for applying military procedures within designated pilot areas in southern Lebanon.
⚡️ The Lebanese Armed Forces are expected to assume control of initial pilot zones in southern Lebanon in the coming days, serving as a primary test for the agreement signed in Washington last month.
🔹 While the exact timeline remains subject to ongoing coordination, US Central Command are working with both Lebanese and Israeli authorities to facilitate a handover.
🔹 The pilot areas, which reportedly include villages such as Froun, Ghandouriya, and Zawtar al-Gharbieh, are being prepared for the deployment of forces.
🔹 Despite the planned pullback, Israeli officials have maintained that their forces will continue to operate within a 10km ‘security belt’ as long as the threat from Hezbollah persists.
🔹 Meanwhile, international stakeholders are expected to be called upon to provide the necessary support, helping to ensure the Lebanese government can effectively restore and maintain sovereign authority in the region.
⚡️ Israel continue to issue threats, despite Lebanon clearly looking for peace, as Energy Minister Eli Cohen characterised the country as being in ‘Iran’s grip’ via Hezbollah.
🔹 Cohen issued a blunt warning to the Lebanese government, stating the moment ‘we see fire or attacks directed at Israel, we will strike anywhere inside Lebanon, including Beirut and the southern suburbs.’
🔹 Despite this threat, Cohen claimed that if Hezbollah were disarmed, Israel could provide Lebanon with economic relief in the form of water, gas, and electricity.
🔹 However, the US asked Israel to refrain from carrying out sensitive operations in southern Lebanon.
🔹 In response, Israel’s political leadership have frozen almost all IDF activities considered sensitive in the area until further notice.
🔹 The directive is expected to remain in place until the situation between the US and Iran is more clear and ongoing Israel-Lebanon talks advance.
🔹 Israel’s military are also expected to begin withdrawing from the disputed areas next week, coinciding with a new round of talks with Lebanon in Rome.
⚡️ Despite Israel refraining from attacks, the IDF struck what they said was an Hezbollah operative ‘near the entrance’ of an underground facility in the Ali Taher mountain range.
🔹 The operative allegedly was identified operating near the facility within the security zone and was targeted after being assessed as ‘posing an immediate threat to forces.’
⚡️ Preparations are now underway for the latest negotiations, due to take place in Rome under US sponsorship, coinciding with Qatari efforts in Tehran to resume US-Iranian talks.
🔹 The US renamed the initial intent declaration as a ‘temporary framework agreement,’ with key terms including Israeli redeployment, experimental zones created, and a unilateral declaration denying territorial ambitions.
🔹 United States were prepared to offer a temporary halt to legal action, which came after threats from the US of ‘terrorism-related charges’ when Lebanon threatened to take Israel to ‘The Hague.’
⚡️ Israel have killed 4,321 people since Hezbollah joined Iran in the war against the US and Israel on March 2, while 12,207 others have been injured.
Sources: Al-Akhbar, LBCI, Al Jadeed, Prime Minister’s Office, The Jerusalem Post, Al-Hurra, Kan News, Channel 11, Channel 12, IDF Official, Financial Times, Lebanese Ministry of Health.
