RismadarVoice Reporters, July 21, 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday as part of efforts to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and strengthen the country’s fragile security situation.
The meeting marks the climax of Aoun’s four-day visit to the United States and comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Lebanon and Israel, with negotiations being mediated by Washington.
Lebanon hopes the talks will lead to a full Israeli military withdrawal from areas still occupied in the country’s south while boosting support for the Lebanese Armed Forces to take control of territories previously dominated by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
On June 26, Lebanon and Israel announced a framework agreement outlining a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon alongside the disarmament of Hezbollah. The agreement also establishes a roadmap toward a future peace accord between the two nations, which have technically remained in a state of war since Israel’s establishment in 1948.
The U.S. State Department on Monday confirmed that implementation had begun in three villages designated as part of a pilot zone, although it did not disclose operational details.
Lebanese military authorities said they were preparing to deploy forces to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbieh following an anticipated Israeli withdrawal. The Israeli military also confirmed it would adjust troop deployments in one of the pilot areas to allow the Lebanese army to carry out its mission, without identifying the specific location.
The other two villages included in the pilot programme-Froun and Srifa-are already under Lebanese army presence and are not occupied by Israeli forces.
Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Aoun held talks on Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to implementing the Lebanon-Israel agreement.
Rubio described the discussions as productive, stressing that lasting peace in Lebanon would depend on resolving the issue of Hezbollah’s armed presence.
He said the Lebanese government must become the country’s sole military authority, replacing Hezbollah’s influence with stronger state institutions.
Beyond security, Rubio emphasised the need to revive Lebanon’s struggling economy through increased international and U.S. investment, noting that rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening state institutions are essential to long-term stability.
In recent days, the Lebanese military has reinforced its presence across several areas expected to fall within the pilot zone, establishing checkpoints and increasing patrols as preparations continue for the agreement’s implementation.
Despite progress in negotiations, Israeli forces remain stationed in parts of southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have indicated they intend to maintain a long-term military presence in what they describe as a security zone along the border.
Hezbollah has rejected the direct U.S.-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, instead supporting diplomatic efforts involving its key ally, Iran, to end the broader regional conflict.
Lebanon’s reformist government, which assumed office in early 2025, has pledged to disarm all non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah. Officials have accused the militant organisation of triggering the latest conflict by launching rockets into northern Israel following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
At the same time, Beirut has condemned Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Lebanon, which resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and displaced approximately 1.2 million people.
Lebanese authorities maintain that a complete Israeli withdrawal and sustained international support for the country’s military remain vital to restoring security and achieving lasting peace.
