Aoun: Lebanon will not pay the price for regional conflicts

President of Lebanon Michel Aoun accused Israel of “the systematic targeting of the remaining Christian presence in the Israeli-occupied territories in an effort to cleanse [the area] of everything that is non-Jewish”. [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said yesterday that Lebanon should not pay the price for Arab and regional conflicts.

“Lebanon did not carry out any aggression against any party and will not accept the suggestion that the Lebanese government is a partner in terrorist acts,” Aoun said.

The president pointed out that “the Israeli targeting of Lebanon continues and that the Lebanese have the right to resist it and thwart its plans by all available means.”

The closing statement issued by the Arab foreign ministers during a meeting at the Arab league in Sunday accused the Lebanese group Hezbollah of “supporting terrorist groups in the Arab countries with sophisticated weapons and ballistic missiles”.

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The ministerial statement also condemned Iran and demanded it refrain from interfering in Arab affairs and supporting terrorism.

Both Lebanon and Iraq announced reservations about the designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. Iraq has also been reluctant to condemn Iran’s regional policies.

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