Lebanon’s Aoun tells Rubio ceasefire with Israel crucial to move on to ‘any other step’

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that a ceasefire with Israel was crucial, as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations meet at the Pentagon.

The president emphasized that a ceasefire is necessary to pave way toward “any other step,” a statement from the presidency said.

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Rubio reiterated the US administration’s support to Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty on all its territories as well as to its inalienable right to self-determination.

During the phone call, Aoun and Rubio also discussed recent developments in Lebanon and the region.

The State Department said commended Aoun’s “courage and vision” in pursuing direct negotiations with Israel, “even as Hezbollah continues its attempts to derail those talks at the expense of the Lebanese people.”

Rubio reiterated that Hezbollah was entirely responsible for the ongoing fighting and emphasized the need for Hezbollah to immediately halt attacks on Israel to enable deescalation.

“The Secretary reaffirmed that the United States fully supports the Government of Lebanon as it works to seize a historic opportunity to deliver peace, reconstruction, and a better future for its people,” the State Department said.

Pentagon talks between Lebanon, Israel

The Pentagon hosted the first round of a new military dialogue between Lebanon and Israel on Friday, despite continued Israeli strikes on what it says are Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

Friday’s meeting was part of a US-brokered track of direct negotiations between the two neighboring countries. The Trump administration launched the talks earlier this year, with Lebanese and Israeli envoys to Washington holding meetings at the State Department and the White House.

Read more: Israeli strikes kill at least 14 across southern Lebanon ahead of Washington talks