The President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun is in Washington, D.C., seeking support from the United States for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and for assistance to help the Lebanese army regain control over areas long held by Hezbollah.
Aoun is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday before concluding his four-day visit. This follows another round of US-mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Rome last week, where they discussed the implementation of an agreement signed by both parties on June 26. According to the Lebanese president’s administration, Aoun and his wife arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday, marking the beginning of the official visit. This is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since 2009, when Michel Suleiman met with President Barack Obama.
US confirms support for agreement implementation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met with Aoun on Sunday, stated that Washington would support the full implementation of the agreement, warning that Lebanon “will never be fully at peace” as long as the issue of Hezbollah remains unresolved. “How do you replace Hezbollah? You defeat them and replace them with a government that is strong enough to be the only armed force in the country,” said Rubio after the meeting.
Skeptics in Lebanon fear that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to civil war. Officials have also called for investment in the country’s devastated infrastructure to strengthen the weakened state, a position supported by Rubio. “It’s not just about military matters,” he said. “It’s about how we can bring more American and international investment to Lebanon.”
On Monday, Israeli military officials announced the start of a “pilot zones program.” It involves the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli troops remain in other areas that have been under their control since the escalation of hostilities against Hezbollah in March. According to a source, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 people and forced over 1.2 million to leave their homes. The plan also includes the removal of Hezbollah weapons by the Lebanese army in certain areas of southern Lebanon.
On Tuesday, a high-ranking Lebanese security official told Reuters that troops had begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya after Israeli forces withdrew from the area.
Challenges for the Lebanese government
While recent talks in Rome signaled a rapid start to the implementation of the agreement, they also revealed the challenges facing Aoun’s government. Hezbollah has opposed direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and efforts to disarm the group, while Israel insists it will not fully withdraw its troops until Hezbollah is disarmed and demilitarized.
The Lebanese government came to power on a reformist platform in early 2025, promising to disarm all non-state groups, including Hezbollah. Lebanese troops were later deployed in parts of southern Lebanon to collect Hezbollah weapons under a ceasefire agreement following the 2024 war. However, these efforts were complicated after fighting flared up again in March when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Iran, which was under attack by Israel and the US. This provoked a new Israeli offensive in Lebanon.
The Lebanese government accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country into another war with Israel but also criticizes the subsequent Israeli ground operation and massive air campaign. Despite strong political opposition from Hezbollah and its allies, Lebanon’s leadership insists that the withdrawal of Israeli troops and international financial support for the army remain key conditions for the country’s long-term security.
Source: Al Jazeera
