Lebanon’s Aoun denies plans to dismiss army chief amid Hezbollah accusations

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has denied claims that Beirut is planning to dismiss Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Rodolphe Haykal after a senior Hezbollah official alleged that changes to the military leadership were imminent.

In a statement, the presidency said reports claiming the army commander or other senior security officials would be removed were false, stressing that the country’s security institutions play a fundamental role in maintaining security and upholding state sovereignty.

Aoun also defended the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement reached last month following several rounds of direct talks conducted in violation of Lebanese law.

Referring to the framework agreement negotiated in Washington, Aoun said its provisions reflected the logic of statehood. He added that Lebanon is a sovereign state capable of negotiating on its own behalf and had chosen diplomacy as the best available option after the failure of war.

Nabih Berri, speaker of Lebanon’s parliament and leader of Hezbollah ally the Amal Movement, also addressed reports that Haykal could be dismissed during an interview published on June 29.

Speaking to Al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri said such an idea should not even be raised as a joke and warned against “playing games” with the army.

He added that the military institution represented a red line, describing it as one of the pillars of national stability and the foremost guarantee of domestic peace. Berri also criticized the agreement reached between Beirut and Tel Aviv in Washington.

According to a statement from the Lebanese Armed Forces, Haykal met the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday to discuss the Beirut-Tel Aviv framework agreement. During the meeting, Haykal thanked the United States for its support and said continued military cooperation was vital to preserving Lebanon’s security and stability.

Senior Hezbollah official Nawaf al-Moussawi had earlier accused President Aoun of attempting to force the army commander from office.

In remarks on June 28, Moussawi said: “The person trying to ignite a civil war in Lebanon is President Joseph Aoun. Aoun is pressuring Haykal to resign, but the commander has refused.” He also said: “I assure our people that the framework agreement signed in Washington between Lebanon and Israel has no value. Therefore, there is no reason for concern.”

Haykal is reported to have refused throughout the past year to advance plans to disarm Hezbollah while Lebanon remained under occupation and attack. He has also reportedly threatened to resign in 2025 over the issue.

Weeks before the latest war began in early March, Haykal visited Washington, where he reportedly drew criticism from US officials after refusing during a meeting to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Moussawi’s allegations come amid nationwide criticism of the agreement signed with Israel last month. The US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel requires Hezbollah to disarm before Israeli forces withdraw. It also prevents Lebanon from pursuing international legal complaints against Israel over a conflict that, since March this year, has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 Lebanese citizens and displaced more than one million people.

The framework agreement has been criticized not only by Hezbollah supporters but also by broader segments of Lebanese society, who view its provisions as an attempt to legitimize Israel’s presence on Lebanese territory.

According to reports in Lebanese media this week, Berri is working to build a broad-based, cross-sectarian political front to oppose the new Lebanon-Israel agreement.

Both Berri and Hezbollah have publicly declared that they will not allow the agreement to take effect. Meanwhile, many in Lebanon fear the country could slide into renewed internal conflict if authorities respond to US calls to pit the Lebanese army against Hezbollah.