Aoun dubs Hezbollah's involvement in Gaza war 'a losing battle'

Former President Michel Aoun has informed Hezbollah that he does not support the group's point of view regarding involving Lebanon in Gaza's war.

"This is a losing battle," al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Aoun as saying, in a report published Friday.

The daily said Aoun has told a Hezbollah delegation he met last week that he finds their point of view "weak" and "unconvincing."

Aoun reportedly said he supported Hezbollah during the 2006 war as it resisted against an Israeli aggression and during the Syrian war, as Hezbollah prevented terrorism and defended its people.

"But involving Lebanon in the Gaza war is different," Aoun explained. "It is not resistance nor self-defense."

He added that Hezbollah took the decision alone, without consulting other parties and committed Lebanon to a war it can not handle. "The government did not decide to start this war. Is there a joint defense treaty between us and Gaza?" Aoun asked.

Since the war in Gaza erupted in October, there have been near-daily exchanges along the Lebanon-Israel border and international mediators have scrambled to prevent an all-out war in tiny Lebanon.

The United States and other governments continue with efforts to prevent the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip from spilling over into Lebanon as Hezbollah militants and Israeli soldiers trade fire across the volatile Lebanon-Israel border.

Hezbollah has vowed not to stop the fighting until a cease-fire is reached in Gaza.

Since hostilities began, at least 322 people have been killed in Lebanon, mainly Hezbollah fighters but also 56 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

In Israel, at least 10 soldiers and seven civilians have been killed in the cross-border exchanges, the military says.

The fighting has raised speculation Israeli forces could stage an invasion into Lebanon as well.