Lebanese President to Visit the United States for the First Time

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will travel to the United States for the first time this week, where he is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

Aoun will become the first Lebanese head of state to visit the White House in nearly 20 years. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday (July 21), will mark the first face-to-face talks between Aoun and Trump.

According to Reuters, Aoun will present a plan during the meeting that focuses on disarming Hezbollah and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Lebanon is currently facing a critical period, as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of the country’s south. At the same time, millions of Lebanese displaced by Israeli military operations have not yet been able to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah opposes direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel. The group has also rejected the government’s efforts to disarm it.

In a statement issued by the presidential office last week, Joseph Aoun said he would ask Trump to pressure Israel to implement the Lebanon-Israel agreement reached on June 26 through U.S. mediation.