Lebanon’s leader slams Iran as Israel launches strikes amid fraying ceasefire

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its conflict with the US and Israel, while condemning the ongoing war with Hezbollah, which has displaced a fifth of Lebanon’s population and killed over 3,500 people. Israeli strikes continued in southern Lebanon despite a US-mediated ceasefire, with Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, proposing Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the Litani River region if Israel also pulled back its forces." "article": "Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Iran in an exclusive interview with CNN, calling Lebanon a ‘bargaining chip’ in Tehran’s conflict with the US and Israel. He emphasized that Lebanon’s people are exhausted by the war between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which has displaced a fifth of the country’s population and killed over 3,500 people in three months. Aoun rejected military solutions, urging Israelis to seek negotiations instead, stating that perpetual war will not bring security to northern Israel. Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon killed four people on Friday, despite a US-mediated ceasefire extension. The conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli cities in retaliation for a US-Israel assault on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. Lebanon and Israel have been in a state of war since 1948, with Israel establishing a buffer zone by occupying parts of southern Lebanon. Aoun suggested he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only after reaching an agreement to end the war, calling the ongoing conflict ‘futile’ and emphasizing that both Lebanese and Israeli people are ‘fed up’ with decades of hostility. He urged diplomacy over military action, framing the current situation as a chance for lasting peace. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, proposed Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the area south of the Litani River if Israel also withdrew its forces from occupied Lebanese territories. Berri criticized the US-mediated ceasefire framework, instead calling for an ‘unconditional’ ceasefire across land, sea, and air. The ceasefire remains contingent on Hezbollah halting all attacks and evacuating operatives from southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated openness to meeting Iran’s supreme leader if a deal to end the war could be reached. However, the US and Iran have issued conflicting statements, with Trump claiming progress is possible, while Iran’s foreign minister stated no ‘significant progress’ has been made. The war’s toll continues to rise as both sides maintain military postures despite diplomatic efforts.