Lebanon’s President Aoun to Convene with Trump on Israeli Withdrawal and Regional Stability

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to conclude a four-day visit to Washington, aiming to secure long-term stability in the region following months of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

The landmark meeting with Trump occurs amid rare direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, mediated by the United States. Lebanon seeks to achieve full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and gain international support for deploying its military in areas previously controlled by Hezbollah.

Lebanon and Israel formalized a “framework agreement” on June 26, outlining steps for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah disarmament. The accord also sets the stage for a future peace agreement between the two nations, which have maintained a nominal state of war for nearly 80 years.

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that operations in three villages—Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbieh—part of a “pilot zone” have commenced, though specific details remain undisclosed. Neither Lebanon nor Israel have issued official statements regarding the developments.

Aoun met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, who affirmed continued U.S. support for the agreement’s implementation. Rubio emphasized that Lebanon cannot achieve lasting peace until the Hezbollah issue is resolved, advocating for replacing the group with a strong, unified government.

He cautioned that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could trigger civil war, urging increased investment in Lebanon’s infrastructure to strengthen its weakened institutions. Rubio highlighted that the U.S. and international community could attract more support through economic development alongside security measures.

The Lebanese military has intensified its presence in the pilot zone villages, establishing checkpoints and conducting patrols. However, recent talks in Rome indicate progress in implementing the agreement, though Israeli forces have yet to withdraw from contested areas.

Israeli officials have stated plans to maintain a long-term “security zone” in southern Lebanon, despite international concerns. Hezbollah has rejected the U.S.-brokered direct talks with Israel, instead pressing for a separate peace agreement with Iran to end the ongoing regional conflict.

Lebanon’s reformist government, elected in early 2025, pledges to disarm all non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah. The administration attributes the escalation with Israel in March to Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket attacks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Beirut’s leadership has condemned Israel’s subsequent military operations in Lebanon, which have resulted in over 4,000 deaths and displaced 1.2 million people. Amid significant domestic opposition from Hezbollah and its allies, the government insists that Israeli withdrawal and international military and financial aid are critical to achieving a sustainable security framework.

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