Aoun calls on int’l community not to abandon Lebanon

In his inaugural speech at the UN General Assembly, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun decried Israel’s attacks and occupation of parts of his country, and called on the international community not to abandon it. “While I stand here today advocating for peace, my countrymen are being killed,” said Mr Aoun. He said Lebanese civilians were facing death and living in uncertainty, referring to Israel’s near-daily strikes on Lebanon and its occupation of five locations in the south. Mr Aoun called on Israeli forces to cease their aggression against his country and withdraw fully from Lebanese territory in line with a ceasefire that came into effect in November 2024.