Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria to discuss regional developments

BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barack, addressing recent regional developments.  

The Lebanese Presidency’s official Facebook page shared photos of the meeting, which was also attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.  

Barrack is scheduled to meet with other Lebanese officials amid the ongoing Iranian-Israeli conflict, assessing its potential impact on Lebanon and the ceasefire agreement with Israel.  

According to Western diplomatic sources, one of Lebanon’s key challenges is ensuring Hezbollah remains neutral in this conflict.  

Despite previous assertions by Hezbollah officials that the group would refrain from interfering in the Israeli-Iranian conflict, recent remarks signal a shift in tone. Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, declared the group’s readiness to resume fighting against Israel if it perceives the Lebanese state as unable to meet its obligations in countering Israeli aggression. 

This development underscores growing concerns about Lebanon’s stability as it navigates the pressures of regional conflict and internal political complexities.