Lebanon’s president departs for Washington to meet Trump

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed Beirut for Washington on Saturday, marking the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the U.S. capital since 2009. The presidency announced Aoun would meet with "several American officials" to discuss the situation in Lebanon, focusing on strengthening the ceasefire, particularly in the south, and advocating for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territories it occupies.

The visit occurs in the wake of U.S.-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which began in April with the goal of a peace agreement to end the long-standing conflict. A framework agreement was reached in Washington on June 26, outlining an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated "pilot zones." This agreement, however, remains contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which has rejected the deal and the ongoing negotiations.

Following the latest round of talks in Rome this week, a U.S. official confirmed that both Israel and Lebanon "agreed on the structure and guidelines" for implementing the pilot zones. In preparation, the Lebanese army has reportedly intensified patrols in villages adjacent to Israeli-occupied areas. Hezbollah initiated attacks against Israel on March 2, drawing Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion, and sporadic attacks continue despite a ceasefire, with Israel maintaining control over territory in southern Lebanon it designates as a "security zone."

The U.S. embassy issued a warning advising Americans against travel to Lebanon due to "high tensions in the Middle East." Meanwhile, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported fresh airstrikes targeting two towns within the Israeli "security zone" on Saturday.

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with several American officials on the situation in Lebanon and ways to strengthen the ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon’s south, as well as on “the withdrawal of Israel from the Lebanese regions it occupies”.