Lebanese President Aoun to Meet Trump, Seeking U.S. Help to Disarm Hezbollah

Lebanese President Michel Aoun is set to make a historic visit to the White House this week, aiming to present a plan to U.S. President Donald Trump on disarming the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and securing Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The visit is significant as Aoun is the first Lebanese head of state in almost two decades to visit the White House. The meeting comes at a critical juncture for Lebanon, with Israeli troops occupying parts of the south, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese displaced by recent Israeli attacks, and Hezbollah firmly rejecting direct talks with Israel or state efforts to disarm it.

According to his office, Aoun intends to ask Trump to "exert the necessary pressure on Israel" to implement the U.S.-mediated June 26 agreement. This accord seeks to disarm Hezbollah, facilitate a gradual Israeli troop withdrawal, and establish conditions for peaceful relations between the two nations. A Lebanese official indicated Aoun would present a written proposal on how to neutralize Hezbollah's substantial arsenal, believing only Trump has the influence to compel Israel's withdrawal and help Lebanon regain its sovereignty.

Aoun, a former army commander, became president last year. The U.S. welcomed his election. His presidency has focused on efforts to disarm Hezbollah, a group founded in 1982 by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Lebanese troops have been deployed in southern Lebanon to collect Hezbollah arms caches, following a 2024 ceasefire, without opposition from a weakened Hezbollah. However, a new conflict erupted in March when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Iran, which was under attack by the U.S. and Israel, triggering a strong Israeli response.

“

exert the necessary pressure on Israel