Lebanon denies scheduled Netanyahu call amid conflicting announcements

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Lebanon 16-04-2026 | 16:07

Lebanon denies scheduled Netanyahu call amid conflicting announcements

Conflicting statements emerge over a rumored first direct Lebanon–Israel leader contact in decades, while Washington intensifies ceasefire diplomacy in Beirut.
Annahar
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Lebanon denies scheduled Netanyahu call amid conflicting announcements
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Nabil Ismail)
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Following the American announcement about a possible call between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Aoun instead received a call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while reports indicated that the President did not agree to speak with Netanyahu.

 

Three Lebanese officials confirmed to Reuters that “no call is scheduled between Aoun and Netanyahu in the near future,” while two Lebanese officials stated that “Beirut’s embassy in Washington has informed the U.S. administration that Aoun will not speak with Netanyahu.”

 

President Joseph Aoun (Nabil Ismail).
President Joseph Aoun (Nabil Ismail).

 

The Lebanese presidency announced that “Aoun received a call from Rubio, during which he thanked him for the efforts Washington is making to reach a ceasefire and for its support at all levels.”

 

The Lebanese presidency added in a statement: “Rubio affirmed his ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire paving the way for peace, security, and stability in Lebanon, and affirmed his support and appreciation for Aoun’s positions.”

 

U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement about a direct call between Lebanon’s and Israel’s leaders, for the first time in 34 years, sparked reactions in Lebanese political circles, and Annahar inquired this morning with the presidency about the matter, only receiving the response that “we have no information on this subject.”

 

Meanwhile, Minister and Israeli Cabinet member Gila Gamliel wrote: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a telephone conversation with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun today.”

 

 

 

In parallel, the U.S. embassy in Beirut announced that “U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa met with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday, April 15, and confirmed their commitment to ongoing talks and the embassy’s efforts in Beirut to support Lebanon in confining weapons to the state and restoring sovereignty.”

 

 

Meeting of Ambassador Issa, Rubio, and Trump (U.S. Embassy in Beirut).
Meeting of Ambassador Issa, Rubio, and Trump (U.S. Embassy in Beirut).

Tags
Joseph Aoun ، Rubio ، Lebanese War ، Israel ، Netanyahu ، ceasefire