BEIRUT, Dec 05 (Agencies): Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday told a United Nations Security Council delegation his country does not want war with Israel, days after civilian representatives from both sides held their first talks in decades.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon and has also maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic.
During his meeting with UN Security Council ambassadors, Aoun said the Lebanese "do not want war again, the Lebanese people have suffered enough and there will be no going back", according to a statement from the presidency.
Aoun called on the envoys to support the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm non-government groups. The army expects to complete the first phase of its government-approved plan by the end of the year.
"The Lebanese army will play its full role... The international community must support and assist it."
Aoun called there was "no going back" on the decision, "even if it requires some time, because the Lebanese are tired of military confrontations".
Meanwhile, Iran launched massive missiles in the Sea of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz during the second day of a naval drill, state TV reported Friday.
The report said the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched the missiles from the depth of Iran's mainland, hitting targets in the Oman Sea and neighboring area near Strait of Hormuz in a drill that began on Thursday.
It identified the missiles as cruise Qadr-110, Qadr-380 and Ghadir that have a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles.) It said the Guard also launch a ballistic missile identified as 303, without elaborating.
TV footage showed the missiles' launch and hitting their targets.
