Rubio speaks to Lebanon's president amid push for Aoun-Netanyahu call
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, during which he expressed his appreciation for Washington’s efforts to reach a ceasefire in the country.
According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Rubio said would continue efforts to achieve a ceasefire “as a prelude to establishing peace, security and stability in Lebanon.”
No further details were made available.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform early Thursday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon were planning to speak later that day.
He wrote, “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice! President DJT.”
However, according to sources cited by the local LBCI channel, Aoun informed Rubio during their phone call that he would not speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The call took place two days after a meeting in Washington at the State Department between Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh, for talks aimed at laying the groundwork for direct negotiations, the first direct talks between the two sides in decades.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
