{"id":1910,"date":"2026-07-21T06:36:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T06:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1910"},"modified":"2026-07-21T06:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T06:36:58","slug":"lebanons-president-will-meet-with-trump-in-washington-to-push-for-israeli-troop-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1910","title":{"rendered":"Lebanon\u2019s president will meet with Trump in Washington to push for Israeli troop withdrawal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BEIRUT (AP) \u2014 Lebanon\u2019s<\/span> president will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump<\/span> on Tuesday to wrap up a four-day visit to Washington, in a bid to bring about long-term calm in the war-torn country after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah<\/span> militant group. <\/p>\n

Read more Israel is building a miles-long earthen barrier inside Gaza, entrenching its division<\/a><\/p>\n

Joseph Aoun\u2019s landmark meeting with Trump comes as Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Lebanon hopes they will result in Israeli troops withdrawing from large swaths of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy, and for the Lebanese military to receive support to assert full control in areas where Hezbollah militants had held sway.<\/p>\n

Lebanon and Israel announced a \u201cframework agreement\u201d<\/span> on June 26, setting a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon as well as the disarmament of Hezbollah, which for decades had a strong presence in the area. It also lays out steps toward an eventual peace agreement between both countries, which have never held formal diplomatic ties and have been nominally in a state of war for nearly 80 years after Israel\u2019s establishment.<\/p>\n

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that operations in three villages deemed part of a \u201cpilot zone\u201d had begun, without giving details on what that entailed. The three villages, Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbieh, are not under Israeli military control. Neither Lebanon\u2019s nor Israel\u2019s militaries and political leadership immediately issued statements following the announcement.<\/p>\n

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Rubio says US will continue to support framework agreement<\/h2>\n

Aoun met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/span> on Sunday, who said Washington will continue to endorse the Lebanese agreement and support the agreement\u2019s full implementation. Rubio described the meeting as \u201cvery positive\u201d and warned that Lebanon will \u201cnever be fully at peace\u201d as long as the Hezbollah issue is not resolved.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you replace Hezbollah? You defeat and replace them with a government that is strong enough to be the sole force of arms in the country,\u201d Rubio said after the meeting. Skeptics in Lebanon fear that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to a civil war, as government officials have also urged for investment into the country\u2019s battered infrastructure to empower the weakened state, which Rubio echoed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not just about military stuff,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is about how can we attract more U.S. and international investment into Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Powerball ticket sales begin Tuesday in the United Kingdom<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Lebanese military last week increased its presence in some of the areas expected to be included in the pilot zone, including the three villages, with troops patrolling and setting up checkpoints. Though recent talks in Rome have signaled that the agreement\u2019s implementation will begin soon, Israeli troops have not withdrawn from the areas under control.<\/p>\n

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Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said they plan to keep forces long term in a \u201csecurity zone\u201d in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

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