Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the world on Sunday to step in and help halt the ongoing war between Israel and Lebanon, warning that diplomacy is the only way to end the conflict and ease civilian suffering.
Speaking during an Easter address in Bkirki, Aoun said Lebanon is in “continuous contact with various countries” in an effort to reduce the human cost of the war.
“We call on friendly countries to intervene to stop this madness practiced by Israel,” he added.
The president revealed that Lebanon has put forward an initiative beginning with a ceasefire, intended to pave the way for negotiations, but said there has been no response so far.
Aoun condemned Israel’s attacks on civilians and stressed that neither the Lebanese government nor its people desire a resumption of hostilities. He said the country is focused on three priorities: maintaining domestic peace, supporting displaced people within Lebanon, and strengthening diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“Israel is trying to turn Lebanon into a second Gaza Strip, and my duty is to prevent this from happening,” he said.
The president also stressed that negotiation should not be seen as surrender and that diplomacy is not a concession. “Wars eventually end through dialogue,” he said.
Aoun warned that civil peace in Lebanon remains a “red line”, adding that security forces and the army are ready to confront any attempts to stir internal unrest.
He praised residents who have opened their homes to displaced families and thanked international partners and aid organisations for their support.
The Ministry of Public Health reported that since 2 March, 1,461 people have been killed and 4,430 wounded, while more than 1.2 million have been displaced as fighting escalates.
The violence flared on 2 March, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel for the first time since a ceasefire began on 27 November 2024, prompting intensified Israeli air strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon.
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