BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to visit the White House this week to discuss strategies with U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at disarming Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and securing Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon. This marks Aoun’s first visit to the White House and the first in-person meeting between the two leaders. The talks arrive amid heightened tensions, as Israeli forces occupy parts of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands remain displaced from Israeli attacks, and Hezbollah has rejected Lebanon’s efforts to strip it of its arms. Aoun, who previously led Lebanon’s U.S.-backed military, aims to present a written proposal to Trump, urging him to pressure Israel into implementing a June 26 agreement brokered by the U.S. The deal seeks to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, facilitate Israeli troop withdrawal, and foster regional stability. Lebanon’s power-sharing system requires the president to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker a Shiite Muslim. Aoun’s military background—wounded twice during Lebanon’s civil war and later leading operations against Daesh militants and economic fallout—positions him as a key figure in navigating Lebanon’s complex political landscape. His presidency has prioritized Hezbollah disarmament, aligned with the 2024 ceasefire following a devastating Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. However, a recent escalation saw Hezbollah attack Israel in March 2024 in solidarity with Iran, triggering an Israeli military campaign that killed over 4,300 people, including civilians and medical personnel. Aoun condemned Hezbollah’s actions, blaming Iran for using Lebanon as a battleground, and has refused to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite Trump’s push. The president’s efforts to balance regional diplomacy and domestic challenges, including economic reforms and accountability for the 2020 Beirut port explosion, underscore Lebanon’s struggle to reclaim sovereignty while addressing decades of conflict and instability.
