Aoun: 'War or Diplomacy — There Is No Third Option'

Addressing the American Task Force on Lebanon, President Joseph Aoun acknowledged the US-brokered framework agreement with Israel faces 'difficulties' but said Lebanon will not abandon it, pressing to 'strengthen this framework and achieve a breakthrough' on the prisoner file, the border, and the pilot-zones process. 'It's war or diplomacy. There is no third option,' he said, criticizing Israel's approach as tactically focused but strategically shortsighted, while affirming the Lebanese army's professionalism despite resource constraints. The statement came hours after Israeli forces bulldozed land in al-Mansouri following a dawn strike, and a Lebanese MP said Hezbollah was committed to defending the Ali al-Taher ridge 'by all means.'