BEIRUT/ANKARA

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday stressed that the state’s monopoly on weapons is a settled matter from which there will be no retreat, while emphasizing that normalization of relations with Israel is currently off the table.

Speaking before a delegation from the Arab International Relations Council in Beirut, Aoun said, “The decision to concentrate arms in the hands of the state has been made and there is no going back on it. The decision on war and peace rests solely with the Council of Ministers.”

He also underscored that normalization with Israel is “not currently part of Lebanon’s foreign policy,” according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency.

Regarding regional relations, Aoun expressed Lebanon’s desire to maintain “good relations with Syria,” while emphasizing “non-interference in the internal affairs of either country.”

Israel launched an assault on Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, that escalated into a full-scale war by Sept. 23, 2024. The conflict has killed more than 4,000 people, wounded over 17,000 and displaced nearly 1.4 million, according to official data.

Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’s activities despite a November ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The truce ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese resistance group.

Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce including the deaths of at least 231 people and injuries to more than 500 since the agreement was signed.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply.

Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.