Lebanese president laments ‘useless’ war as IDF chief vows to clear Hezbollah south of Litani River

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun decried the “useless” war into which Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon, calling for diplomacy as the only way to end the conflict without turning Lebanon into Gaza.

“Some have asked about what we will get from negotiation, but I ask, ‘What have we benefited from your war?’ Negotiation is not a concession, diplomacy is not surrender and our contacts are ongoing to halt killing and destruction,” Aoun said on Sunday after attending Easter mass.

However, in the war between the powerful, Iran-backed terrorist group and the Israeli military, the Lebanese government has remained largely on the sidelines, avoiding direct military confrontation – a position that has limited prospects for engagement between Israel and Beirut.

Nevertheless, IDF officials told Israeli media outlets this past weekend that they see the goal of completely disarming Hezbollah – without any help from the Lebanese government – as unrealistic, as it would require a full-scale occupation of all of Lebanon.

‼️INSIDE A SCHOOL IN LEBANON: Hezbollah military gear and uniforms, graduation certificates of the Radwan Force unit, RPG operation manuals, surface-to-surface rockets and launchers.

This all was found alongside packages that were sent from Iran to Shiite villages in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/cdqCaKP0jj

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 5, 2026

Instead, the IDF is working to seize full control of a line of hills running about 8 to 10 km (5-6 miles) from the border with Israel, aiming to prevent Hezbollah from launching anti-tank missiles into Israel and to increase warning times for rocket and drone attacks.

The rest of the area up to the Litani River would reportedly be turned into a sort of “kill zone,” where Israeli forces would freely target Hezbollah terrorists – and presumably carry out isolated raids on infrastructure – until the area is cleared of terrorist presence.

“The entire area south of the Litani has become an operational zone in which Northern Command soldiers and the Air Force are systematically targeting Hezbollah operatives until it is ensured that the entire area up to the Litani River is free of threats to Israel and our northern communities,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday.

The IDF said Zamir’s statement came as he toured Ras el-Bayada, the northernmost point in southern Lebanon, where IDF soldiers are currently operating. The town is located near the coastal town of Ras an-Naqoura.

The Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah command centers in Beirut, along with gas stations owned by the terror group elsewhere in Lebanon, the military says.

The Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs were targeted today following fresh evacuation warnings for the… pic.twitter.com/HqYc7zTqXS

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 5, 2026

“Over 1,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated, and that number will continue to rise. The damage to Hezbollah will intensify. Every terrorist target and any target that supports terrorism in Lebanese territory will be struck,” he vowed.

“With regard to the current objectives in Lebanon, the IDF is engaging Hezbollah in precise operations in order to strengthen defense and push the threat away from northern communities. We will remain on this line as long as required. The IDF is working to suppress and reduce high-trajectory fire from Lebanon.”

Zamir stressed, “The objective of disarming Hezbollah is defined as a top-tier goal, an ongoing objective that predates the current operation. [Operation] Roaring Lion will advance it.”

Meanwhile, the Lebanese president continued to defend his efforts to open negotiations with Israel, which Jerusalem has reportedly declined.

“Gaza was destroyed, with between 70,000 and 80,000 victims, and in the end they sat down and negotiated,” Aoun said, adding, “We have no choice but to negotiate in order to stop the tragedies and the bloodshed that Lebanon is suffering from.”

“Unfortunately, some people wanted to drag Lebanon into wars that have nothing to do with it and wanted to tie Lebanon to the fate of the region. We continue the contacts; we will not stop them until we can save the few homes that remain and were not destroyed, and some of the residents who were not displaced from their homes, and stop the bloodshed and the destruction.”

Government of Lebanon - we wanted to check whether there is any update regarding your firm demand that the Iranian ambassador leave Lebanon no later than March 29 (a week ago)? pic.twitter.com/W2EtFQQseM

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 4, 2026

Aoun was asked about the Iranian ambassador, who has refused to leave the embassy, despite being asked to leave the country, underlining the Lebanese government’s limited authority over its own territory.

On Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry's 𝕏 account taunted the Lebanese government, asking, “We wanted to check whether there is any update regarding your firm demand that the Iranian ambassador leave Lebanon no later than March 29 (a week ago)?”

Aoun declined to give a direct answer, instead emphasizing that he continues to maintain contact with the Iranian regime and spoke about “working to establish good relations between Lebanon and Iran, based on mutual respect without interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”

A Hezbollah parliament member, Ali Fayyad, claimed on Sunday that the terror group doesn’t oppose negotiations with Israel in principle, but demands a full withdrawal of IDF troops, an end to the Israeli strikes, and the return of southern Lebanon’s residents before engaging in negotiations with Jerusalem.

Fayyad also said that the Iranian regime has assured Hezbollah that it won’t agree to an end of the war with the U.S. that would leave the Lebanese front open, as Hezbollah fears that the Israeli military could turn all of its attention on Lebanon after the war in Iran ends.