Aoun Questions Hezbollah's Intentions, Dismisses Trump Contact Reports

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has challenged Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem, asking directly what his intentions are and if he seeks conflict. "Let Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem tell me what he wants. Does he want to fight? Let him go and fight; we've seen the results," Aoun stated, according to visitors who spoke with al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper.

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Let Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem tell me what he wants. Does he want to fight? Let him go and fight; we've seen the results.

The president also addressed reports of contact between U.S. President Donald Trump and Hezbollah, dismissing them as inaccurate. Aoun clarified that Trump had contacted the Lebanese ambassador in Washington, not Hezbollah directly, unless they considered Ambassador Nada Moawad to represent the group. He defended the work of Lebanese ambassadors Nada Moawad and Simon Karam, stating they performed "tremendous work."

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President Trump did not contact Hezbollah; rather, he contacted our ambassador in Washington, unless they consider Ambassador Nada Moawad to represent Hezbollah.

Regarding the situation in southern Lebanon, Aoun expressed skepticism about a genuine ceasefire or conditions ripe for an Israeli withdrawal. He noted that the withdrawal of Hezbollah members from south of the Litani River would need to be parallel to any Israeli withdrawal.

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she and Ambassador Simon Karam did tremendous work.

Despite these challenges, President Aoun is placing his hopes on the implementation of "pilot zones." He proposed deploying the Lebanese Army to specific areas, including Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Yohmor, and Qalaat al-Shaqif, as a potential first step.

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there is no serious ceasefire, nor are the conditions yet suitable for an Israeli withdrawal parallel to the withdrawal of Hezbollah members from south of the Litani River.