President Joseph Aoun says the Lebanese people “paid a heavy price” during Israel’s war on the country, with thousands killed, villages destroyed and families forced from their homes, Al Jazeera reports.

The Lebanese presidency says on X that after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Lebanon remains committed to recovering from the conflict.

“What the war could not destroy is the will of the Lebanese. Today, we are more determined than ever to restore the sovereignty of our state, rebuild our homeland and build a secure and stable future for all Lebanese,” Aoun says.

“I am pleased to visit the Republic of Turkiye, at a juncture that reflects the deep-rooted relations binding our two countries, and a shared will to bolster cooperation in ways that serve the interests of our peoples and contribute to the stability of our region,” he adds.