Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to meet Trump as Israel begins Lebanon troop withdrawal under U.S-brokered deal
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House as Israel begins a limited withdrawal of troops from southern Lebanon under a U.S.-brokered agreement aimed at reducing tensions and creating a path toward a broader peace deal.
Aoun’s visit marks the first time a Lebanese president has traveled to the White House since 2009. He is expected to seek U.S. political backing, additional support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and continued American pressure on Israel to complete its withdrawal from areas it occupies in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military has begun pulling back from several villages as part of a pilot agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon. The arrangement is intended to serve as a test for future withdrawals and requires the Lebanese Armed Forces to take control of the areas, remove Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure, and prevent the militant group from rebuilding its military presence.
U.S. officials said the initial withdrawal zones are designed to build confidence between Israel and Lebanon while creating momentum for expanded cooperation. They warned that any effort by Hezbollah to rearm or disrupt the process could threaten reconstruction efforts and long-term stability.
The withdrawal represents the first Israeli pullback from Lebanese territory since Israel launched a ground operation in March following Hezbollah attacks. Israeli officials described the initial phase as a test of the Lebanese military’s ability to maintain sovereignty in the designated areas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Aoun ahead of the White House meeting and said the United States believes strengthening Lebanon’s government and military is the best way to reduce Hezbollah’s influence. He also emphasized the importance of attracting international investment and improving economic conditions for the Lebanese people.
Trump and Aoun have not met in person but have spoken by phone in recent months, with officials from both countries describing the conversations as productive. Trump has pushed for progress on the Israeli withdrawal, though officials acknowledge that a larger breakthrough toward a permanent peace agreement may depend on political developments in Israel later this year.
Comments
Post a Comment