With Lebanon engulfed by war once again, reflections return to a significant meeting I had with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace. Aoun, who took office after the devastating Israel-Hezbollah war, still grapples with the lingering power of Hezbollah, which remains armed and defiant despite earlier isolation. His optimism had suggested a possible resolution to this intractable issue, where Hezbollah's disarmament could stabilize Lebanon.

Although a ceasefire was established in November 2024, tensions continued to escalate as Israel persistently attacked locations associated with Hezbollah. Aoun's administration finds itself caught between compelling local factions and the external pressures of Israeli military actions.