Joseph Aung commented as he said Lebanese forces would stop rocket attacks on Israel.
Lebanon President Joseph Own says he will not disarm Hezbollah under adverse circumstances as Israeli forces continue to launch deadly air launches at the country in violation of the November ceasefire.
The former Army Secretary said in a comment to reporters after meeting with Maronite Patriarch and Mark Easter that the former Army Secretary thinks the group alongside Iran will disarm “sensitivity and sensitive issues” that must be considered to maintain peace for the people.
“Controversial domestic issues in Lebanon can only be approached through reconciliatory, non-traditional dialogue and communication. Otherwise, it will ruin Lebanon,” Aoun said.
The Trump administration has put sustained pressure on Beirut to promote disarming Hezbollah, and last week he announced that he hopes to complete the process by the end of 2025.
Aoun’s comments on Sunday came shortly after the Lebanese government praised the Army for blocking an impending attack on Israel. This is the first since the November ceasefire with Hezbollah, which Israel has violated many times.
The Lebanese army released images of the confiscated rockets and launch pads, saying it had arrested several individuals who had previously been involved in rocket attacks against Israel.
The attack that led to confiscated ammunition was reported to have taken place in the Saint region of southern Lebanon.
Prime Minister Nawaf Sharif’s office urged security forces to “stoop suspicious conspiracy to explode Lebanon in further wars,” saying the work proves that the Lebanese state is heading towards full sovereignty beyond its own military territory.
“The Lebanese state is the only authority to make decisions about war and peace, and the institution permitted to own arms,” he said.
Hezbollah did not immediately respond to Sunday’s statement, but its leader, Naim Qassem, said on Friday that the group “doesn’t arm anyone” especially as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah formed in the aftermath of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and for decades it became substantial political and military power. This included ousting Israel from the 2000 occupation of southern Lebanon and fighting a deadlock with Israel in the 2006 war.
However, the organization has lost Israeli assassination and many military equipment since the start of Israel’s Gaza War in October 2023, and has had to withdraw its troops from South Lebanon as part of a ceasefire.
Israeli air strike kills two people
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said on Sunday that two people were killed in two Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli fighter jets fired at least two missiles at Hula’s home, a village in Nabatier province, killing one person, the ministry said.
The Israeli drone attack also said it targeted Kautariet Ajuyad’s vehicle and killed another person.
The footage below has been verified by Sanad’s fact-checking agency in Al Jazeera, showing the rise in smoke feathers after Israeli air force targeted the height of the Ikrim Altaffa region in southern Lebanon.
مراسلالیديد: ∈Efentsةا Explanational Theory منا Verasia
– Al Jadeed News (@aljadeednews) April 20, 2025
Israeli forces said one of the strikes in southern Lebanon killed the deputy director of the Hezbollah force, who is responsible for smuggling weapons and funds into the group across the border with Syria.
The Army added that it was “widely involved” in Hezbollah’s efforts to reinvigorate after the group was hit hard during the war.
After killing two other people on Saturday, Israeli forces claimed they were members of Hezbollah.
