Lebanon’s Aoun seeks US support to safeguard sovereignty

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Beirut is counting on U.S. support to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and secure the return of all Lebanese territories, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

Aoun said the United States remains the only party capable of exerting real pressure on Israel, adding that Lebanon intends to keep the issue at the forefront of the U.S. administration’s agenda.

He stressed that any territories returned should be placed under the exclusive control of the Lebanese army and state institutions, and said southern Lebanon must not become a hostage to regional conflicts.

“We had no choice but to turn to the United States for help in the face of a significant imbalance of power,” Aoun said.

The Lebanese president also denied reports of a possible meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing such speculation as unfounded.

By Tamilla Hasanova