President Joseph Aoun said Monday that Lebanon would not accept the continued Israeli presence in parts of southern Lebanon, insisting that full Israeli withdrawal remains a non-negotiable national demand as the country marked the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

In a statement commemorating the May 25 liberation anniversary, Aoun said the occasion carried deep national significance, describing the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon 26 years ago as “an unprecedented chapter of resistance and national dignity” achieved through the sacrifices and steadfastness of the people of the South.

But the Lebanese president said this year’s anniversary comes amid renewed tensions and continued Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon.

“The anniversary of liberation comes this year while Lebanon remains burdened by a painful reality,” Aoun said. “Israeli attacks have not stopped, and beloved southern villages are still suffering under renewed occupation in blatant violation of all international resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 1701.”

Aoun stressed that Lebanon would not normalize the current situation and would continue seeking a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

“Lebanon will neither accept nor adapt to this reality,” he said. “Full Israeli withdrawal remains a firm national demand from which there can be no retreat.”

The president said the Lebanese State is pursuing that objective through negotiations, emphasizing that diplomacy should not be interpreted as weakness or surrender.

“The choice of negotiation is not a concession or an act of surrender,” Aoun said. “It is an affirmation of Lebanon’s exclusive right to protect its land, defend its sovereignty, and extend the authority of the State through its army and legitimate security institutions.”

He added that restoring full sovereignty requires national unity and public support for State institutions, saying Lebanon had already taken “decisive and highly significant national decisions” aimed at reestablishing State authority.

Aoun also reaffirmed the central role of the Lebanese military, describing the army as “the sole guarantor of national security and territorial integrity.”

The president paid tribute to those who fought during the years of Israeli occupation, including both Lebanese soldiers and resistance fighters, saying their sacrifices should serve as the foundation for building a stronger state.

“Those who liberated the South with their blood — soldiers and resistance fighters alike — deserve a strong and cohesive State built on the legitimacy of its civilian and military institutions,” he said.

He also called for a State governed by justice, equality before the law and national solidarity.

“The greatest way to honor the memory of liberation is to build a State that serves as a refuge and fortress for all Lebanese,” Aoun said. “Sovereignty must remain a responsibility carried by every citizen.”

“Lebanon belongs to all of us,” he added. “The liberation of the South is a responsibility borne by the State with the support of its people, because ultimately it is the only possible choice.”