Lebanese president visits Doha for talks with Qatari emir

BEIRUT

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Qatar on Tuesday evening at the start of an official visit for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

According to the state news agency NNA, Aoun held meetings with Lebanese Ambassador in Doha Farah Berri and Qatari envoy in Beirut Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani upon his arrival to discuss key topics for his scheduled meeting with the Qatari ruler on Wednesday.

Discussions between the two leaders are expected to strengthen bilateral relations, explore cooperation opportunities, and address regional and international issues.

Speaking to the Qatari state news agency QNA, Aoun described his trip as part of ongoing visits to “brotherly and friendly nations” since his election as president on Jan. 9.

He expressed confidence that the visit would advance bilateral ties, promote shared interests, and support regional stability.

Aoun emphasized Qatar’s potential role, alongside Arab and international partners, in helping Lebanon recover from its prolonged crisis and reinforcing state authority and the Lebanese military across its territory.

Separately, Aoun said in an interview with the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed (The New Arab) newspaper that his goal is to make 2025 the year when only the state controls weapons, suggesting Hezbollah could join the Lebanese army through integration training.

He praised Hezbollah’s restraint in not responding to Israeli violations, stating the group is avoiding being drawn into a new war.

Aoun clarified that integrating Hezbollah into the army would not mimic Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces model or create a separate unit, but it would allow fighters to enlist and undergo standard training, as done with other factions after Lebanon’s civil war, he said.

Aoun revealed US demands to expedite state control over weapons but countered that Washington should pressure Israel, leaving Lebanon to handle Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has not commented.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November 2024, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,440 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 125 victims and injuries to more than 371.

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 Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.