• Defends Israel talks as ‘diplomatic war’, not betrayal
• Syrian FM rules out any military action in Beirut

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday defended a recently signed US-backed framework agreement with Israel, arguing the negotiations are not a betrayal and vowing he will not surrender “a single inch of Lebanese territory”.

The statements came as Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Beirut to assure Aoun that Damascus has no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, despite pressure from the United States to do so.

Aoun said Beirut decided to engage in talks “to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from its territory”.

Lebanon last week signed the framework agreement aimed at securing peace between the two nations, a move that sparked major protests from Hezbollah.

“Negotiations with Israel are not treason but a diplomatic war without unnecessary bloodshed,” Aoun said on Thursday, according to the presidency. “We will not yield a single inch of Lebanese territory.”

The latest war erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader.

Israel responded with air strikes and a ground invasion that authorities say have killed more than 4,200 people in Lebanon.

The framework agreement envisions the Lebanese army gradually establishing its authority over southern Lebanon as Hezbollah disarms and Israel withdraws. The process does not currently have a timeline and will be detailed in an undisclosed security annex.

However, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli army would remain “until further notice” in what it describes as “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the zone in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, reaffirming that forces would remain as long as Hezbollah “poses a threat”.

Meanwhile, Syrian diplomatic efforts in Beirut sought to ease regional tensions. Shaibani told Aoun he wanted “to clear up the confusion sparked by reports of a potential Syrian military intervention in Lebanon”, adding that “Syria had no intention of undertaking such a move”, the Lebanese presidency said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that Syria could “take care of Hezbollah”, criticising Israel’s strategy in its war with Hezbollah.

Mr Shaibani extended an invitation from Sharaa for Aoun to visit Syria, which would mark a first. He also met Parli­ament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, and later told reporters he did not rule out a future meeting with Hezbollah.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2026