Lebanese president says ready to ‘go anywhere’ for country’s ‘salvation’ as ceasefire takes effect

‘We are no longer a card in anyone’s pocket, nor an arena for others’ wars, and we will never return to that,’ says President Aoun

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday said he is ready to “go anywhere” to secure the country’s “salvation,” stressing that the goal of the ceasefire agreement with Israel is to ensure its withdrawal from occupied areas and restore full state authority. In a televised address to the nation on the first day of the ceasefire, Aoun said Lebanon is entering a critical phase and warned of expected challenges ahead. “We are certain we will face many attacks in the coming phase, for a simple reason: we have reclaimed Lebanon and its decision-making for the first time in nearly half a century,” he said. Aoun emphasized that Lebanon is now negotiating on its terms. “We are no longer a card in anyone’s pocket, nor an arena for others’ wars, and we will never return to that,” he added. The president said he is prepared to assume full responsibility for the current path, including efforts to “liberate our land, protect our people, and save our country,” reiterating that the objective of the agreement is clear—Israeli withdrawal and the extension of state authority across all Lebanese territory. Aoun also vowed to prevent further loss of life, saying he would not allow “a single Lebanese to die from now on, or for our people to continue bleeding for the interests of others or regional power calculations.” On negotiations with Israel, he said they do not represent a concession or weakness but rather “a decision rooted in our belief in our rights, our concern for our people, and our responsibility to protect our country by all means.” US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington is actively prohibiting Israel from carrying out additional attacks on Lebanon as a nascent ceasefire takes hold. Trump announced Thursday a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon starting at midnight local time in Tel Aviv and Beirut. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has reached 2,294, with 7,544 people injured, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said Friday.