Aoun questions whether Israel really wants peace, says Israeli pretexts 'flimsy'

President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel's "repeated attacks" on Lebanon, accusing it of violating the U.S.-brokered framework deal.

"When both sides sign an agreement, they are expected to honor it," he said. "Unfortunately, while Lebanon remains committed to the agreement and insists on its implementation, Israel continues to offer unacceptable excuses to justify its aggression. Flimsy pretexts are being used to defend these ongoing strikes."

Aoun condemned the destruction of an entire building to target a single individual. "Innocent victims have fallen — women, children, and families who have nothing to do with what is happening, yet are paying the price of violent and unjustified bombardment," he said. "Entire towns and villages have been destroyed, and the Civil Defense, the Red Cross, state institutions, the army, and security forces have been targeted."

Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon on Monday, killing 13 people including women and children, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday, in an intensification of violence after a weeks-long lull.

The Health Ministry said 27 people were killed and 69 others wounded in Israeli attacks on south Lebanon over the past three days. The majority of the casualties were recorded in the Nabatieh region.

"The scale and magnitude of these attacks are completely disproportionate," President Aoun said. "253 children have been killed. These children were not Hezbollah members; they weren't armed or fighting."

"The killing of innocents, including children and women, the destruction and burning of homes, and the bulldozing of property are condemned, rejected, and unjustified crimes," he added.

"These actions target the framework agreement and undermine all efforts to halt the escalation in the South and the region as a whole," Aoun warned, adding that he is still determined to pursue the diplomatic path, which he considers "the best solution for both sides."

Aoun urged Israel to respond positively to the framework agreement it signed, noting that this agreement enjoyed Arab and European support and was signed under American sponsorship. He went a step further, questioning whether Israel actually wants peace. "Does Israel want peace or war? And if it wants war, let it say so clearly.