By Nohad Topalian | 2026-04-30

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is taking a hard line against Hizbullah, blaming the Iranian regime's proxy for dragging the country into war.

Committed to the ceasefire, Aoun initiated direct negotiations with Israel on March 9th to consolidate lasting stability.

The ceasefire took effect April 16th following Washington talks between Lebanon and Israel Ambassadors, with US Secretary Rubio attending.

Aoun on April 20th asserted the negotiations aim for a cessation of hostilities, with ongoing US talks to solidify the truce.

Hizbullah and its supporters strongly oppose direct negotiations with Israel and have previously rejected calls to disarm itself.

The group dragged Lebanon into war with a March 1st rocket attack on Israel, retaliating for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

"Facing a dead end with Hizbullah, president Aoun is blaming the group and remains determined to continue negotiations," political analyst Bechara Charbel told Al-Fassel.

"Aoun emphasized that negotiation is his constitutional duty to decisively end Lebanon's crippling crisis," he added.

The Lebanese government demands a monopoly on arms and war decisions, decreeing Hezbollah's military wing illegal.

Aoun firmly rejected national strife, warning against Hizbullah's threat of internal armed conflict.

Hizbullah's disastrous war leaves diplomacy and negotiation as Lebanon's only viable path to ending the conflict, analysts agreed.