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Aoun defends talks
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said he chose negotiation with Israel to prevent the country from entering a “critical situation,” telling ABNA: "I chose the path of negotiation to prevent the country from being led toward the abyss."
“AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Joseph Aoun, Lebanon's President, stated in remarks that he made the decision to continue negotiations with the Zionist regime with the aim of preventing the country from entering a critical situation”
Aoun said Lebanon’s government remains committed to continuing negotiations with the Zionist regime, and the Lebanese Embassy in Washington announced the White House has formally invited Joseph Aoun to travel to the United States and meet with Donald Trump on July 21.
ABNA said the trip follows a framework agreement signed last month between Lebanon and the Zionist regime with U.S. mediation, reached after several rounds of direct negotiations in Washington aimed at ending the war between the Israeli regime and Hezbollah.
Middle East Eye reported that Aoun defended the decision to negotiate during ongoing attacks, saying critics “do not deserve a response,” while insisting he would not “back down from the decision to negotiate” and would clarify the importance of the path to the Lebanese people.
Middle East Eye also said the framework agreement mediated by the US has led to anger in Lebanon, with people taking to the streets to protest the demand for Hezbollah to disarm in exchange for Israel withdrawing troops occupying Lebanon.
Hezbollah rejects framework
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to abandon the US-backed framework agreement with Israel and pursue only indirect negotiations, warning that the deal would serve Israeli interests at Lebanon’s expense.
In a televised speech, Qassem told Aoun: “I guide you towards a solution: we accept negotiations with you, but indirect negotiations,” and he argued that Lebanese officials should discuss proposals internally and reach national consensus before accepting any commitments.
Qassem rejected the framework agreement signed by Lebanese authorities, describing it as “entirely in Israel’s favour” and claiming it contained provisions that undermined Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Hezbollah also criticized the agreement’s language, saying it did not include the word “withdrawal” but instead referred to “redeployment,” which Qassem claimed would allow Israel to maintain control over parts of Lebanese territory.
Middle East Online said the dispute deepened a political confrontation in Lebanon over the future of the US-brokered framework agreement signed on June 26, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that the death toll from Israeli attacks since March 2, 2026 had risen to 4,321 with 12,203 people wounded.
Rome talks and pilot zones
As Lebanon and Israel prepare for further talks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Tuesday that a new round of discussions would take place next week in Rome, according to Middle East Online.
“While south Lebanon lives under the fear of a new round of confrontation, especially with the rising military tension between America and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and its vicinity, the Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun is trying to preserve hope of escaping the catastrophe that has befallen his country”
Ynetnews said Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold talks in Rome next week on implementing the framework of understandings reached between the sides in Washington, and it cited a U.S. official saying the pilot phase under which the IDF is to withdraw from one area and the Lebanese Army will move in is expected to begin within days.
Ynetnews reported that a U.S. official said “CENTCOM is coordinating with both countries to move forward,” and it said outreach to international partners would help the Lebanese government restore sovereignty in the pilot zones and across the country more broadly.
Ynetnews also said CNN reported that Aoun is linking Lebanon’s continued participation in talks with Israel to the start of an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and it added that Aoun is scheduled to travel to Washington on July 21 for a meeting with President Donald Trump.
In parallel, ABNA said the expected Joseph Aoun and Donald Trump talks would focus on implementing the framework agreement’s requirements, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory and the expansion of the Lebanese government’s sovereignty in the south of the country.
