President Joseph Aoun addressed the Lebanese people this evening, following the entry into force of the ceasefire with Israel. He thanked all those who contributed to achieving this goal, including brotherly and friendly countries, US President Donald Trump, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other nations. President Aoun emphasized that what had been reached "was the culmination of everyone's efforts, the fruit of the sacrifices you made which awakened the conscience of the world, the efforts of everyone who hosted or embraced their brother in the homeland, and the immense efforts made by all Lebanese officials, together with all our brothers and friends of Lebanon around the world." President Aoun affirmed that "we endured accusations, insults, slander, and falsehoods, and we did not back down until it became clear that we were in the right, and until it was confirmed to the entire world that what we did was the most sound and correct course." He added: "We are certain that in the upcoming phase, which will witness the transition from the ceasefire to working toward permanent agreements, we will face all attacks for a simple reason: that we have reclaimed Lebanon and Lebanon's decision-making for the first time in nearly half a century. Today, we negotiate for ourselves and decide for ourselves. We are no longer a card in anyone's pocket, nor an arena for anyone's wars, and we never will be again." President Aoun stressed that these negotiations "are not a weakness, nor a retreat, nor a concession, but rather a decision stemming from the strength of our faith in our right, our concern for our people, and our responsibility to protect our homeland by all means, particularly our refusal to die for anyone other than Lebanon. Negotiations do not mean, and will never mean, relinquishing any right, compromising any principle, or infringing upon the sovereignty of this homeland." Affirming his readiness to go anywhere "to liberate my land, protect my people, and save my country," the President of the Republic clarified that his mission is singular, clear, and specific: to save the country and its people. He stated: "I will not allow a single Lebanese to die from this day on, nor the continued bleeding of my family and people for the interests and influence of others, or the calculations of axes of power, near or far. Between misleading slogans that destroy and rational steps that build, I and our people stand with rationality. I realize that you are with me, because I know the magnitude of the sacrifices you have made, and I know what it means for a person to lose their loved ones, their home, or their sense of security." President Aoun stressed that "there will be no agreement that compromises national rights, detracts from the dignity of the steadfast people, or yields an atom of this homeland's soil. Our goal is clear and declared: to stop the Israeli aggression on our land and people, secure the Israeli withdrawal, extend the state's authority over its entire territory exclusively through its own armed forces, return the captives, and return our people to their homes and villages, enjoying security, freedom, and dignity." He implored the Lebanese to open their hearts and minds, and not to obscure their vision or blind their insight with slogans of accusation and treason, for homelands are not built on instinct, but rather on awareness, unity, and trust. He said: "We are all in the same boat; either we steer it wisely until we reach the safe shore, or we sink it and sink together with it. No one has the right to commit that crime, neither under the pretext of a slogan, nor by suicidal instinct, nor out of loyalty to anything other than Lebanon and its people." Text of the Speech The following is the full text of President Aoun's speech: My fellow citizens, my family and brothers, I address you today from a position of responsibility, and from the depths of the pain we all experience—not with fleeting words, but with a sincere word that carries the burden of the homeland and the suffering of its people. What has been achieved regarding the ceasefire was the culmination of everyone's efforts. It is the fruit of the sacrifices you made, which awakened the conscience of the world. It is the fruit of those who remained steadfast in their homes and villages on the front lines, affirming to the world that we are staying here and will not leave no matter what happens. It is the fruit of the efforts of everyone who hosted or embraced their brother in the homeland. It is the fruit of immense efforts exerted by all Lebanese officials, alongside all our brothers and friends of Lebanon across the world—efforts that connected days and nights of contacts in all directions and at various levels. We did not rest, we did not tire, and we never doubted for a moment our right and our duty. For this, we endured a great deal. We endured accusations... and insults... and slander and falsehoods, and we did not back down until it became clear that we were right, and until it was confirmed to the entire world that what we did was the most sound and correct course. Here, I extend my thanks and gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing about the ceasefire, starting with our friendly US President Donald Trump, down to all our Arab brothers, foremost among whom is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We count on their friendship to complete what we started yesterday and achieve what we aspire to. As for now, we all stand before a new phase. It is the phase of transitioning from working on a ceasefire to working on permanent agreements that safeguard the rights of our people, the unity of our land, and the sovereignty of our homeland. In this phase, as in the one before it, we are confident that we will save Lebanon, and we are confident at the same time that we will be exposed to all attacks for a simple reason: that we have reclaimed Lebanon and Lebanon's decision-making for the first time in nearly half a century. Today, we negotiate for ourselves and decide for ourselves. We are no longer a card in anyone's pocket, nor an arena for anyone's wars, and we never will be again. Rather, we have returned as a state that alone holds its decision, raises it high, and embodies it in both word and deed, for the life of its people and the good of its children, and nothing else. I tell you with all frankness and confidence: these negotiations are not a weakness, nor a retreat, nor a concession, but rather a decision stemming from the strength of our faith in our right, our concern for our people, and our responsibility to protect our homeland by all means, particularly our refusal to die for anyone other than Lebanon. Negotiations do not mean, and will never mean, relinquishing any right, compromising any principle, or infringing upon the sovereignty of this homeland. Thousands of Lebanese we have lost—these are our children, we will not forget them, and I will not allow a single Lebanese to die from this day on, nor the continued bleeding of my family and people for the interests of the influence of others or the calculations of axes of power, near or far. Between suicide and prosperity, I and our people stand with prosperity and against suicide. Between misleading slogans that destroy and rational steps that build, I and our people stand with rationality. And between futile, gratuitous, and periodic death under the pretexts of external causes, and life for our homeland and our people in dignity, freedom, and prosperity... I and our people stand with life. I have said it and I repeat it: I am ready to bear full responsibility for these choices, and I am ready to go anywhere to liberate my land, protect my people, and save my country. My mission is singular, clear, and specific: to save this country and its people. This is what I will do with absolute national, humanitarian, and faithful conviction. And I realize that you are with me; in secret and in public, you are with me. In your hearts and minds, you are with me, because I know the magnitude of the sacrifices you have made, and I know what it means for a person to lose their loved ones, their home, or their sense of security. I tell you with sincerity and resolve: this pain will not be our destiny forever. And I affirm to you, in the language of my pledge and promise, that there will be no agreement that compromises our national rights, detracts from the dignity of our steadfast people, or yields a single grain of this homeland's soil. Our goal is clear and declared: to stop the Israeli aggression on our land and people, secure the Israeli withdrawal, extend the state's authority over its entire territory exclusively through its own armed forces, return the captives, and return our people to their homes and villages, enjoying security, freedom, and dignity. My family and beloved ones, The strength of this homeland lies first in the awareness of its people, and in its unity based on right, justice, and the choice of living together, in accordance with the principles of our National Pact. A single state to which alone we owe our complete allegiance and final belonging; a single constitution by which we abide; single laws to which we all submit; and a single armed force that protects us all. Do not allow suspicious and accusing voices to sow discord among you. Do not be dragged behind those who exploit your emotions to build their glory at the expense of your stability. Exercise reason, overcome the instincts of the misleaders, and trust that what we are doing today and tomorrow is for your safety, protection, and free, dignified, and secure life, and to grant your children a safer and more stable future, rather than consecrating them as statistics of death every few years—sacrifices to a near or distant foreign power. Everyone who fell for the homeland departed from our hearts before departing from your homes, and every home that was destroyed brought down with it a part of our conscience and memory; therefore, we will rebuild it hand in hand, better than it was. All Lebanese are in one boat; either we steer it wisely until we reach the safe shore, or we sink it and sink together with it. No one has the right to commit that crime, neither under the pretext of a slogan, nor by suicidal instinct, nor out of loyalty to anything other than Lebanon and its people. I implore you today, by the right of your sacrifices and pains, in loyalty to those of us who have passed away and as a trust to our steadfast people: open your hearts and minds, and do not obscure your vision or blind your insight with slogans of accusation and treason, for homelands are not built on instinct, but rather on awareness, unity, and trust. To the displaced, I tell you: you will return to your homes, for they will flourish with you, and we are with you and by your side, and we will not let you down. To those steadfast in their homes under danger, your sacrifices will not go in vain, and pride will remain your trait of which we are proud. And to those gambling with the destiny of Lebanon and the lives of the Lebanese, I say: enough! The state project alone in Lebanon is the strongest, most enduring, and safest for everyone. And to the world I say: Lebanon will not be broken, its people will not die, and its right will triumph. Our future we shall forge with our own will and the will of all Lebanese.