Lebanese president visits Doha for talks with Qatari emir

By Wassim Seifeddine and Mohammad Sio

BEIRUT (AA) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Qatar on Tuesday evening at the start of an official visit for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

According to the state news agency NNA, Aoun held meetings with Lebanese Ambassador in Doha Farah Berri and Qatari envoy in Beirut Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani upon his arrival to discuss key topics for his scheduled meeting with the Qatari ruler on Wednesday.

Discussions between the two leaders are expected to strengthen bilateral relations, explore cooperation opportunities, and address regional and international issues.

Speaking to the Qatari state news agency QNA, Aoun described his trip as part of ongoing visits to “brotherly and friendly nations” since his election as president on Jan. 9.

He expressed confidence that the visit would advance bilateral ties, promote shared interests, and support regional stability.

Aoun emphasized Qatar’s potential role, alongside Arab and international partners, in helping Lebanon recover from its prolonged crisis and reinforcing state authority and the Lebanese military across its territory.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November 2024, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,440 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 125 victims and injuries to more than 371.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.