Conflict & Security
Trump says US will help Lebanon as Aoun seeks support on Israel deal
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States would help Lebanon as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun sought Washington's support for efforts to disarm Hezbollah and move toward peace with Israel.
Aoun, the first Lebanese president invited to Washington since 2009, asked Trump for political support and continued backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces. The army has begun deploying in southern areas under a US-backed framework agreement with Israel. Aoun said the Lebanese Armed Forces needed support and warned that without them, "everything will collapse."
During the White House meeting, Trump said Lebanon had been badly treated and hit hard for decades. He described it as dangerous in many ways but said its people loved the country and that the United States would help it.
After the talks, Trump said he would authorize the resumption of direct flights by US airlines to Lebanon. Those flights were suspended more than 40 years ago after the 1985 hijacking by Lebanese Islamist militants of a TWA flight carrying many Americans. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the announcement, saying it could improve travel and connectivity between Lebanon and the United States and support Lebanon's economy.
Aoun, a former army commander, said in Washington that the Lebanese military was the backbone of Lebanon's security and stability and the country's most trusted institution. His office said he had stressed the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory as a condition for moving forward with the framework deal. Asked whether Washington would put more pressure on Israel to withdraw, Trump said the United States would look at that.
The visit came as the Lebanese army moved into part of southern Lebanon under a deal with Israel meant to show that Beirut can extend state authority and disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel has set Hezbollah's disarmament as a condition for ending its occupation.
The Lebanese army said it began deploying Tuesday to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, one of three pilot zones. Hours later, it said Israeli forces opened fire near its units. The Israel Defense Forces said it had fired only warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area that it said was not part of the pilot area. The IDF said no injuries were reported.
The pilot zones are mainly just outside territory entered by Israeli forces after Hezbollah opened rocket fire on Israel and pulled Lebanon into the Middle East war in March.
Aoun has criticized Hezbollah for bringing Lebanon into the war and has said since taking office in early 2025 that all weapons should come under state control. Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected giving up its arms and has opposed both the deal and the Israel-Lebanon negotiations behind it.
Aoun said the framework agreement did not need approval from Lebanon's parliament and was within presidential powers under the constitution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting Aoun on Sunday that Lebanon would not truly have peace while Hezbollah remained armed. Rubio also praised what he called the Lebanese government's effort to reclaim sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle Hezbollah's "terrorist infrastructure."
Aoun's push follows Israeli strikes in the latest conflict that killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. The violence has fallen sharply since the signing last month of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran and the Lebanon-Israel deal.
Update
Aoun asked Trump for political support and continued backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Trump said he would authorize the resumption of direct flights by US airlines to Lebanon, suspended more than 40 years ago after the 1985 TWA hijacking.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the flight announcement as a chance to improve travel links and support Lebanon's economy.
The Lebanese army said Israeli troops fired near its soldiers after the army began deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, one of three pilot zones.
The Israel Defense Forces said it fired warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area it said was not part of the pilot area, and said no injuries were reported.
Aoun said the framework agreement did not require parliamentary approval and fell under presidential powers.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Lebanon would not get peace while Hezbollah remained armed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 20:48:58 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese presidency statement said Aoun described full Israeli withdrawal as urgent.
The statement said Aoun linked withdrawal to stability, Lebanese sovereignty through Lebanese forces, and implementation of a joint tripartite framework.
The statement referred to a US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel last month.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 19:58:32 UTC.
Update
A statement said Lebanon's president insisted on full Israeli withdrawal during his meeting with Trump.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 19:50:53 UTC.
Update
Trump said the United States would help Lebanon "a lot".
Aoun asked for political support and continued backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Aoun said the Lebanese army was needed to prevent collapse and was central to security and stability.
The Lebanese army said Israeli forces fired near its units and said this would hinder the deployment.
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area it said was not part of the pilot area, and said no injuries were reported.
Trump said Washington would look at whether to put additional pressure on Israel to withdraw.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Lebanon would not truly get peace while Hezbollah remained armed.
Trump warned Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels against a threatened blockade of Saudi ports.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 19:26:36 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese presidency said Joseph Aoun wrote in the White House guest book that he deeply appreciated President Trump's friendship.
The presidency said Aoun also cited US support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, its legitimate institutions and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 18:40:04 UTC.
Update
Lebanon's president expressed deep appreciation for US support after talks with Trump.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 18:32:54 UTC.
Update
Trump said the United States would help Lebanon “a lot” as Aoun sought support for efforts to disarm Hezbollah and pursue peace with Israel.
Aoun was described as the first Lebanese president invited to Washington since 2009.
The Lebanese army began deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, one of three pilot zones under a US-backed framework with Israel.
The Lebanese army said Israeli troops opened fire near its units, while the Israeli military said it fired warning shots after Lebanese soldiers entered an area outside the pilot zone and that no injuries were reported.
Aoun said the framework agreement did not need parliamentary approval and was a presidential power under Lebanon’s constitution.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Lebanon would not get peace while Hezbollah remained armed and praised efforts to disarm the group and dismantle its infrastructure.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes in the latest conflict killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon.
Trump also warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels against threats to blockade Saudi ports.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 16:58:39 UTC.
Update
Joseph Aoun warned that southern Lebanon could return to chaos like the 1970s without US backing.
Aoun told reporters at a White House meeting with Trump that he fully trusted the Lebanese Armed Forces and its leadership.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 15:56:18 UTC.
Update
Lebanon's president urged Trump to keep supporting Lebanon's army.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 15:46:41 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese army said Israeli forces opened fire near units deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya and said this would hinder deployment in the pilot zones.
Israel's military said it would adjust its force posture in one pilot area, but did not immediately comment on the Lebanese army's firing report.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Aoun on Sunday and said Lebanon would not get true peace while Hezbollah remained armed.
Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the Washington meeting showed continued US interest in Lebanon but raised concern about what more Lebanon may be asked to do.
Robert Satloff wrote that Trump would likely seek evidence of Aoun's seriousness in disarming Hezbollah, guarantees on army officers believed to be complicit with Hezbollah, and eventual peace with Israel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 14:15:36 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese army said it had begun deploying to Zawtar al-Garhbiya, one of three pilot zones under the deal with Israel.
Israel's military said it would adjust its force posture in one pilot area.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Aoun on Sunday and said Lebanon would not have true peace while the Hezbollah arms issue remained.
Rubio commended the Lebanese government for efforts to reclaim sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its infrastructure.
Aoun is described as the first Lebanese president invited to Washington since 2009.
Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the meeting showed continued US interest but raised concern about what more Lebanon may be asked to do.
The source says Aoun is expected to ask for more aid for the Lebanese army.
Robert Satloff wrote that Trump would likely seek evidence of Aoun's seriousness on disarming Hezbollah, guarantees on army officers believed complicit with Hezbollah, and eventual peace with Israel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 09:24:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source does not report a final Israeli decision on withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament, leaving the future of the framework deal uncertain.
Source
AFP news report published on .