Addressing EU Leaders, Aoun Vents His Anger Against Hezbollah

This tenth day of the American-Israeli offensive against the Iranian mullahs' regime was marked by three highlights: the strong stance adopted by President Joseph Aoun, who severely condemned the behavior of Hezbollah, and furthermore declared himself in favor of direct negotiations with Israel under international supervision; the intense Israeli aerial bombardments against the southern suburbs of Beirut, specifically against the offices of Qard el-Hassan (Hezbollah's illegal financial structure); and the Parliament's vote to extend the mandate of deputies for a period of two years.

This vote, which passed with a slim majority of 76 votes, is explained by the State's inability to organize the legislative elections that were supposed to take place in two months, next May. At the current stage, no one can predict the duration of the armed conflict initiated by Hezbollah on the local scene, especially since this new war, which is once again shaking Lebanon, is entirely dependent on the overall regional context.

President Joseph Aoun moreover emphasized this precise point in a statement released publicly on Monday, March 9, in the mid-afternoon. In a clear allusion to Hezbollah, the head of state broke his silence and was particularly critical of the pro-Iranian party, declaring that « those who launched rockets (against Israel, on March 2) did so based on Iranian calculations ». The head of state declared himself in favor of direct negotiations with Israel « under international supervision » in this context. It is the first time since his election to the State's highest office that President Aoun has so openly advocated for direct negotiations with Israel.

Addressing the leaders of the European Union via Zoom, at the initiative of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, President Aoun unleashed his anger against Hezbollah, strongly condemning the behavior of this party, which resulted in the reopening of the South Lebanon front, on the night of March 1^st to 2 March: « Those who launched the rockets wanted to drag Lebanon into chaos (…). The country is caught between two fires, between an aggression that in no way respects international laws and humanitarian law, on the one hand, and an armed faction that stands apart from the State and in no way takes into account the interest of Lebanon and its people, on the other hand ».

Emphasizing that the firing of six rockets against Israel by Hezbollah, on the night of March 1^st to 2 March, had absolutely no impact on the course of the current war in the region and was only intended to provoke an Israeli intervention to then claim that only the Hezbollah militia is capable of defending the country, President Aoun clearly declared himself in favor of holding direct negotiations with Israel to get the country out of the crisis.

This forceful position by the head of state comes as, on the regional level, the Iranian conflict is at a crucial turning point following the official announcement, on Sunday evening, March 8, in Tehran, of the appointment of the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the person of Mojtaba Khamenei, who thus succeeds his father, Ali Khamenei, killed during the first Israeli air raids in Tehran on February 28. The new Leader is known for his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His designation was perceived by many observers as a sign of further hardening in the Iranian position. President Donald Trump moreover emphasized late Monday evening that he was hostile to the appointment of this new Leader…