Lebanon’s Aoun to meet Trump in Washington to discuss Israel talks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has travelled to Washington at the invitation of US President Donald Trump to engage in discussions aimed at advancing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The visit represents the first time a Lebanese head of state has visited the White House since Michel Sleiman met with then-President Barack Obama in 2009.

During his meetings with Trump and other senior US officials, Aoun is expected to address several key issues including strengthening the existing ceasefire, securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and restoring security and stability throughout the country. The discussions will also focus on extending Lebanese state authority across all Lebanese territory, according to statements from the Lebanese presidency.

The timing of the visit follows recent rounds of US-mediated negotiations held in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli officials. According to US officials, both sides have agreed on procedures for establishing "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon where Israeli troops would begin withdrawing and the Lebanese military would assume security responsibilities. These pilot zones form part of a framework agreement reached in June intended to gradually reduce Israel's military presence in the region.

However, significant obstacles remain in the negotiation process. The framework agreement contains no specific timeline for Israeli withdrawal, instead linking such withdrawals to the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups. Hezbollah has rejected calls to disarm and has refused to participate in the negotiations or accept the framework agreement. The group maintains that only continued pressure from its ally Iran can achieve an end to the conflict and Israeli withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have maintained a presence in what they describe as a 10-kilometre security zone along the border and have continued conducting air strikes in the region. Israeli officials have stated that their forces will remain in this zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed. The broader conflict has resulted in more than 4,000 Lebanese deaths and displaced over a million people since escalating into full-scale war in March.