To listen to much of the world’s media, Israel invaded Lebanon with the excuse of attacking Hezbollah, and the Lebanese are rallying around the group, which they supposedly see as defending the country’s sovereignty against the IDF’s seizure of territory south of the Litani River. This is an inversion of the truth.
At least three-quarters of the Lebanese — all of its Christians, both Maronites and Orthodox, all of its Sunni Muslims, and even some of its Shi’a — regard the terror group with rage and horror. Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into war after war with Israel, conflicts in which IDF attacks on Hezbollah operatives and weapons have unavoidably caused tens of billions of dollars in damage.
According to the latest ceasefire agreement, which the U.S. brokered between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah is required to completely halt its fire. The agreement also calls for the dismantling and disarming of the group.
Hezbollah has emphatically rejected the terms of the agreement, and the Lebanese government still lacks the capability to disarm Hezbollah by force. However, ever since Hezbollah attacked Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, the IDF has managed to kill at least 5,000 of its combatants, injured another 4,000 with the “exploding pagers” so severely that they have been rendered hors de combat, and it has reduced Hezbollah’s prewar stockpile of 150,000 weapons — rockets, missiles, drones, and mortars — by 90%.
The Americans have in the last year sent several hundred million dollars in weapons to the Lebanese National Army (LNA), and just now the EU has announced it is sending $133 million worth of weapons to the LNA. As Hezbollah continues to be ground down by the IDF, the LNA gets steadily stronger. President Aoun is no longer afraid to speak out against Hezbollah.
More on what President Aoun had to say in an interview with Christiane Amanpour on CNN can be found here: “‘It’s not your country’: Lebanese President Aoun hits out at Hezbollah, Iran,” Jerusalem Post, June 5, 2026:
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun slammed Hezbollah and Iran in an interview with CNN on Friday, saying that his country’s people “are not [Hezbollah leader] Naim Qassem’s people.”
Aoun told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that he spoke to a diverse number of Lebanese civilians, who have told him that they are “fed up” with the war between Hezbollah and Israel….
Regarding Iran, Aoun accused the Islamic Republic of using Lebanon “for the sake of your [Iran’s] own interest.”
“You are not trying to help us,” said Aoun. “The people of Lebanon are paying the price.”
He then criticized statements by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) connecting Lebanon to a potential US-Iran ceasefire, saying the regime is “using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation.”
“It’s unacceptable,” he said. “It’s not your country, it’s our country.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam concurred with Aoun’s assessment of Iran, further accusing the Islamic regime of bringing “destruction and ruin” to Lebanon.
On Friday, Salam spoke of Iran’s rejection of the recent ceasefire framework, calling it “proof that this is not our war, but one that is being waged on our land and at the expense of our residents.”…
When polled, three-quarters of the Lebanese clearly reject Hezbollah. They long for its defeat and disappearance. They don’t want to be dragged into wars with Israel that end in so much damage to their buildings, their villages, their cities. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are finally able — with Hezbollah weakened, and the LNA strengthened — to stand up for Lebanese national interests, and to denounce the terror group’s puppetmaster, Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday rejected Aoun’s remark that Lebanon was a bargaining chip for Tehran.
“Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we’d have a deal long ago,” Araghchi posted on X/Twitter. “Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President.”
The “real foe,” as President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and most of the Lebanese know, is Hezbollah. Lebanon wants only to be free from Iran’s proxy and its endless warmongering. And now Lebanese leaders sense that with the arms they now possess, and with the IDF still pounding Hezbollah with many dozens of sorties a day, the terror group cannot continue to fight for very long.
Aoun also discussed Israel with CNN, emphasizing that he believed that only negotiations would bring safety and security to the region….
“We are ready, we are willing; we are committed [to negotiations],” he said. “If you [Israel] are not, you will never live in peace, safety, and security.”…
Israel is of course prepared to “live in peace” with Lebanon, but not with Hezbollah. It always has been. Jerusalem and Beirut have the same enemy, and together they can now destroy what is left of that terror group.
On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Qassem said that talks between Israel and Lebanon were tantamount to “surrender,” rejected by “broad segments of the Lebanese people.”
Qassem rejected the US-backed ceasefire as “a roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest.”…
That is not what the people of Lebanon, or at least 75% of them, think. Right now, they feel oppressed not by Israel, but by Hezbollah, that for years has dominated the Lebanese landscape and used its territory, as a proxy of Iran, to make intermittent war on the Jewish state.
Under the framework discussed by parties in Washington, “pilot zones” would be established in which the Lebanese army would have exclusive control, with no non-state actors present.
In other words, Hezbollah is to be systematically pushed out of each “pilot zone” either voluntarily, or by the Lebanese army, which is now ready assert, and maintain, its exclusive control over that same territory. This effort will go on systematically. Hezbollah in some places will remove itself without a fight, but in others will put up resistance to the national army. With the delivery of new weaponry, and the weakened state of Hezbollah, for the first time the LNA is ready to take on Hezbollah. Lebanon will be regained for the Lebanese, and Hezbollah, if it exists at all, will be reduced to being a political party representing the interests of the Lebanese Shi’a. In this scenario, Iran has no place.
Israel and Lebanon are on the same side in wanting Hezbollah to be crushed. Israel wants to stop Hezbollah from launching missiles and drones at its civilians. Lebanon wants Hezbollah destroyed, so that Beirut will no longer be dragged into destructive wars with Jerusalem. And now they have the best chance to achieve it since Hezbollah was formed in 1982. Hezbollah sites keep being bombed. Israel promised Trump that the IDF would not bomb Beirut as long as Hezbollah refrained from attacks. And it kept its promise. But within two days of Israel’s pledge not to attack Beirut, Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel and in response, Israel has again been bombing Dahiyeh, the southern Beirut stronghold of the terror group. The IDF says it has made a direct hit on Hezbollah headquarters. In another strike the IDF hit a military vehicle traveling in a combat zone near Nabatiyeh, killing three Lebanese army soldiers, including a Brigadier General. President Aoun denounced that killing, which the IDF recognizes was a mistake and is now investigating. Aoun has also expressed a feigned anger with the IDF’s renewed attacks in southern Beirut, for he must surely be quietly pleased at what the IDF is doing in continuing to dismantle Hezbollah as a fighting force.
Wellington says
Lashing out against evil doesn’t mean all that much. What does mean a lot is eradicating evil. After all, when all things are said and done, far more is said than done and why man finds himself in precarious and exigent circumstances again and again. Action, not words, nine times out of ten is the more important.
somehistory says
“Speak softly and carry a big stick” someone said.
Jesus,, went with whip in hand, and ran the violators out of His Father’s House, speaking as He whipped them.
And this brings to mind a line from a country song: “a little less talk and a lot more action.”
Wellington says
Indeed, somehistory. Indeed.
Occasionally talk is not cheap (e.g., Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address which is arguably the most magnificent ten sentences ever composed by man) but even on those rare occasions when it isn’t it must invariably be followed up by action, as you noted with the references to Teddy Roosevelt, Jesus and a country music song.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Sorry, but talk is cheap, President Aoun! I’d respect your position & take you seriously much more if you actively declared war on Hizbullah, and had the Lebanese Army brutally hunt them down. It was one thing when Hizbullah was riding high and getting armed to the teeth by the islamic regime in Teheran. It’s another thing altogether 2 years after the Israelis almost wiped them out
So what Israel should do is occupy the entire south of the Litani River, including Tyre, expel all the muslims – shi’a or sunni, but allow Maronites, Melki’ites, other Christians and Druze to remain there. In the last century, Israel had the South Lebanon Army – a Christian group loyal to them, who they shamefully betrayed. So this time, they should do that on their own, try to recreate that army, and create a permanent buffer zone – like in Syria – that secedes completely from Lebanon. Maybe call this territory “Phoenicia” and make it as de-facto a state as Somaliland, w/ Tyre as the capital
Dina Collins says
Didnt Aoun have a family member, who was President & was shot dead while driving his car? Reminds me of Kennedy. Brave!!!
gravenimage says
Dina, great to see you posting again!
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Dina
No, he’s not related to Michel Aoun, even though he fought for him in a war in Lebanon in 1990. He was backed by Samir Gaegae, who was the successor to Bashir Gemayel, who contemplated a treaty w/ Israel in the 80s but was assassinated by the Syrians before he could take office as President
He looked impressive initially, but his failure to take control of Lebanon after Israel decimated Hizbullah in 2024 proves that he’s unfit to lead that country. If I were a Lebanese Christian citizen, I’d be rooting for someone tougher to replace him, who could work w/ Israel to completely eradicate Hizbullah from Lebanon
Shalom says
Something a bit positive for a change.
Beans🫘 says
There’s nothing positive he’s a coward as are the Christians in Lebanon. With Israel doing the hard work, attack from the front, the Christians could EASILY surprise the Hezbollah savages from the rear and very quickly dispose of these ruffians.
But they won’t do it. And they cause trouble for nothing Israel but Lebanon. Now, they will be stuck with Hezbollah , a terrorist group in their own land.
Hezbollah can keep retreating north so Israel can’t fix this alone. Someone from the north must stand up and stop being weaklings!
Beans🫘 says
Screw him and the rest of the Christian in Lebanon. They sit like cowards and bitch and moan. Go like men and mow Hezbollah down from the rear and let Israel crunch from the front.
Middle eastern Christian cowards. As usual. Just got for losing land and cowering to Muslims.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
And participating in the Arab denunciations of Israel. In fact, it was an Arab Christian pastor who was one of the first guests Tucker had on to denounce Israel
Beans🫘 says
Tell him to deport himself and the rest of his complainers to Iran, Pakistan or wherever else it’s so great. Go over there if it’s so bad.
Israel needs allies, and these Christian clowns are useless for anything but inviting more Muslims and wiping their butts.
Did you see, all the Hezbollah terrorist radicalized families are being wiped down by Christian towns, all for free. They all fled to Christian areas. Great job Christians! I hope Israel keeps the south, and the get to live with the Shia terrroists permanently once the terrorist fathers march up there with hands wide open for a handout, and the other hand a rocket launcher!
Have fun fools!
gravenimage says
Lebanese President Aoun Lashes Out at Hezbollah
……………………………………………..
This is not much, but it *is* something. And saying *anything* critical of Hezb’allah in Lebanon takes real courage.