Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid in Baghdad on Sunday, discussing strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional stability.

“The two leaders held official talks to discuss the overall Iraqi-Lebanese relations and ways to enhance and develop them across various levels and fields,” read a statement from Sudani’s office.

The discussions also addressed regional developments and the potential for promoting broader regional and international stability.

In May at the Arab League summit in Baghdad, Sudani pledged $20 million to support Lebanon’s reconstruction following extensive damage from the months-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The fighting began on October 8, 2023, one day after war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah opened a front from southern Lebanon in support of its Palestinian allies, prompting weeks of cross-border clashes with Israel. Hostilities came to a halt in late November after a ceasefire was reached.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel's attacks on Lebanon have continued.

"We condemn the ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime on Lebanese territory," Sudani said during a joint press conference with Aoun, calling for regional and international support for Beirut.

In December, Iraqi government spokesperson Basem al-Awadi said Baghdad “played a pivotal role” in reaching the ceasefire.

Aoun also met with his Iraqi counterpart Rashid, who reiterated Iraq’s support for Lebanon’s stability and security, according to state media. Aoun expressed his gratitude to Iraq for its ongoing assistance to Lebanon.

During the conflict, Iraq also hosted around 20,000 Lebanese refugees as “guests of Iraq,” most of whom have since returned home.

Lebanon’s former economy minister, Amin Salam, told Rudaw in March that the war had caused an estimated $25 to $30 billion in economic losses.

During the presser with Sudani, Aoun said that among Lebanon’s main objectives are “restricting weapons in the hands of the state and confronting corruption.”

Aoun’s visit follows controversy in April when he ruled out adopting Iraq’s model of integrating armed groups into the state defense structure. In an interview with The New Arab, Aoun was asked whether Lebanon might follow Iraq’s approach of incorporating the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into its national army as a way to manage Hezbollah’s armed status.

“Absolutely not,” he said at the time. “There will be no PMF-style force and no independent units within the [Lebanese] army.”

While officially incorporated into Iraq’s security apparatus, many PMF factions continue to operate independently and maintain close ties with Iran.

The comments prompted Baghdad to summon the Lebanese ambassador in protest. Sudani later received a phone call from Aoun, during which they reaffirmed the strength of Iraqi-Lebanese relations, according to a statement from Sudani’s office at the time.

Hezbollah, widely seen as a central actor in Iran’s Axis of Resistance, has reportedly suffered major setbacks during its latest conflict with Israel, including severe damage to its missile infrastructure and the reported assassination of its long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in September.

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