Lebanon's Aoun condemns Israeli strikes, warns against being drawn into regional war

2026-03-02 - 07:03

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a strong condemnation Monday of Israeli airstrikes targeting Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, which killed at least 31 people and wounded 149 others. In an official statement, Aoun declared that rocket fire from Lebanese soil "targets all the efforts and initiatives the state has undertaken to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region." Sovereignty and National Interest Aoun emphasized that "the Lebanese state has repeatedly warned of the consequences of regional escalation on the country and has called for prudence and responsible action guided by the national interest." He warned that "persisting in using Lebanon once again as a platform for wars we have no part in will expose the country to new risks." The president stressed that responsibility for any consequences "falls on the parties that ignored repeated calls to maintain security and stability," noting that "this is something the Lebanese state will not allow to happen again, nor will the Lebanese people accept it." Israeli Operations and Evacuations The Israeli army launched a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon early Monday after intercepting a rocket fired from Lebanese territory, with additional projectiles falling in open areas without causing injuries. Israeli officials warned residents of 53 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley to evacuate and stay at least one kilometer away from populated areas ahead of planned attacks. The strikes represent a significant escalation following Hezbollah's rocket attacks and come amid broader regional hostilities triggered by Saturday's US-Israeli strikes on Iran.