Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Rubio praises Lebanon peace efforts during talks with Aoun
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on Sunday and praised Lebanon's efforts after the latest round of Lebanon-Israel talks.
Aoun and Rubio held talks at the State Department. Lebanese officials said Aoun is due to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The visit was the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2009.
According to a State Department release, Rubio said Aoun's government had made a determined effort to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its infrastructure and move toward peace.
Israel and Lebanon, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, began US-sponsored negotiations in April aimed at reaching a peace deal and permanently ending the Israel-Hezbollah war. On June 26, they reached a framework agreement in Washington under which the Israeli military is to withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army is to deploy, starting with two pilot zones.
The agreement depends on the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah has rejected both the deal and the Israel-Lebanon negotiations behind it.
At Sunday's talks, Aoun said Lebanon and the United States needed to align on implementing the framework by securing the first Israeli withdrawal from the first pilot zone.
After the latest round of talks in Rome last week, Israel and Lebanon agreed on guidelines for implementing the pilot zones, according to the United States. The State Department said Washington remained committed to the framework and to supporting Lebanon's efforts to deliver peace.
The source said Hezbollah pulled Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by striking Israel in support of Iran. It said Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion, and that despite a ceasefire Israel continues sporadic attacks and holds territory in the south.
The source also said the United States carried out airstrikes on Iran on Sunday after the first US military deaths since open hostilities rekindled the Middle East war.
Update
It was the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2009.
Rubio said Aoun's government had made efforts to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its infrastructure and move toward peace, according to a State Department release.
Israel and Lebanon began US-sponsored negotiations in April aimed at a peace deal and a permanent end to the Israel-Hezbollah war.
A June 26 framework agreement calls for Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment, beginning with two pilot zones.
Aoun said Lebanon and the United States must align on implementing the framework by achieving the first Israeli withdrawal from the first pilot zone.
After talks in Rome last week, Israel and Lebanon agreed on guidelines for implementing the pilot zones, according to the United States.
The State Department said Washington was committed to the framework and to supporting Lebanon's peace efforts.
The source says Hezbollah began striking Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, and Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion.
The source says the United States carried out airstrikes on Iran on Sunday after the first US military deaths since open hostilities rekindled the Middle East war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 18:17:00 UTC.
Update
Joseph Aoun's visit was described as the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman met Barack Obama in 2009.
Lebanese officials said Aoun is due to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The State Department said Rubio praised efforts to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its infrastructure.
Israel and Lebanon began US-sponsored negotiations in April aimed at a peace deal and at permanently ending the Israel-Hezbollah war.
A June 26 framework agreement in Washington provides for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment, beginning with two pilot zones.
The agreement is contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament, which Hezbollah has rejected along with the negotiations behind the deal.
The United States said Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome on the structure and guidelines for implementing the pilot zones.
Aoun's office said he planned talks on Lebanon's situation, strengthening the ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese regions it occupies.
The report also said the United States carried out airstrikes on Sunday after the first US military deaths since open hostilities rekindled the Middle East war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 16:09:45 UTC.
Update
The State Department said Rubio commended the Lebanese government under President Joseph Aoun for efforts to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty.
The State Department said Rubio praised efforts to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle what it called Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 15:36:51 UTC.
Update
Marco Rubio hailed Lebanon for what he described as a move towards peace after meeting President Joseph Aoun.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 15:27:36 UTC.
Update
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's office said he would meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Aoun's office said his talks would cover the situation in Lebanon, strengthening the ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese areas it said Israel occupies.
Israel and Lebanon began US-sponsored negotiations in April aimed at a peace deal and ending the Israel-Hezbollah war.
A June 26 framework agreement in Washington calls for Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment, starting with two pilot zones.
A US official said Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome on the structure and guidelines for implementing the pilot zones.
The agreement is contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament, which Hezbollah has rejected along with the Israel-Lebanon negotiations.
The source adds context on Hezbollah's strikes, Israel's response, continuing sporadic Israeli attacks, territory held by Israel in the south and US airstrikes against Iran on Sunday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 14:42:55 UTC.
Update
The State Department official said Rubio met Aoun in Washington on Sunday, rather than only saying talks were being held.
The source says it is the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2009.
The Lebanese president's office said Aoun would meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 14:26:29 UTC.
Update
A State Department official said Marco Rubio was holding talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 14:18:57 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese presidency said Aoun had arrived in Washington and would meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday and Donald Trump on Tuesday.
A Lebanese military source said the Lebanese army had begun increasing patrols near areas occupied by Israeli forces in preparation for the pilot zones.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported fresh Israeli airstrikes near the so-called security zone and a large detonation near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah cell operating drones near the security zone and Israeli soldiers.
The Lebanese military said a soldier was killed by the explosion of a suspicious object in an army vehicle in Mansouri.
The US embassy renewed its call for Americans not to travel to Lebanon.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 20:16:22 UTC.
Update
Aoun's office said he would discuss the situation in Lebanon, strengthening the ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese areas it occupies.
The trip is described as the first by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since Michel Sleiman met Barack Obama in 2009.
A June 26 framework agreement provides for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment, starting with two pilot zones.
A US official said Israel and Lebanon agreed this week in Rome on the structure and guidelines for implementing the pilot zones.
A Lebanese military source said the army had intensified patrols in villages near areas occupied by Israeli forces, including Froun in Bint Jbeil district.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported new Israeli airstrikes against two towns near the security zone and a large detonation near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah cell that had been operating drones and taking cover near the security zone and Israeli soldiers.
The Lebanese military said one soldier was killed after a suspicious object exploded in an army vehicle in Mansouri.
The Israeli military said the explosive device did not belong to it and suggested Hezbollah had planted it.
The US embassy renewed its call for Americans not to travel to Lebanon because of ongoing regional tensions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 19:33:45 UTC.
Update
A Lebanese military source said the Lebanese army had begun intensifying patrols in villages near areas occupied by Israeli forces, including Froun in Bint Jbeil district.
Hezbollah held a rally in Tyre on Saturday to restate its rejection of the plan.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported fresh Israeli airstrikes near the so-called security zone in the Tyre and Nabatieh regions and a large detonation near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah cell operating drones and taking cover near the security zone and Israeli soldiers.
The Lebanese military said a soldier was killed by the explosion of a suspicious object in an army vehicle in Mansouri, which was also hit by several Israeli strikes.
The US embassy renewed its call for Americans not to travel to Lebanon, citing high tensions in the Middle East.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 18:12:25 UTC.
Update
A US official said Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome on the structure and guidelines for implementing two pilot zones.
A Lebanese military source said the army had begun increasing patrols in villages near areas occupied by Israeli forces, including Froun in Bint Jbeil district.
Hezbollah held a rally in Tyre on Saturday to repeat its rejection of the plan.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported fresh airstrikes against two towns near the so-called security zone in the Tyre and Nabatieh regions, and a large detonation near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
The Lebanese military said a soldier was killed after a suspicious object exploded in an army vehicle in Mansouri.
The US embassy renewed its advice for Americans not to travel to Lebanon, citing high tensions in the Middle East.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 15:13:30 UTC.
Update
The presidency said the trip would be the first by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since Michel Sleiman met Barack Obama in 2009.
Aoun's talks are expected to cover the ceasefire, especially in southern Lebanon, and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese areas it occupies.
Israel and Lebanon reached a June 26 framework agreement in Washington involving Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment in two pilot zones.
A US official said Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome on the structure and guidelines to implement the pilot zones.
A Lebanese military source said the Lebanese army has intensified patrols in villages near areas held by Israeli forces, including Froun in Bint Jbeil district.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported fresh airstrikes on two towns near the security zone in the Tyre and Nabatieh regions.
The US embassy warned Americans not to travel to Lebanon, citing high tensions in the Middle East.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 12:15:37 UTC.
Update
The Lebanese presidency said Aoun would discuss the situation in Lebanon with several American officials.
The presidency said the talks would cover ways to strengthen the ceasefire, especially in southern Lebanon.
The presidency said the talks would also address the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese regions it occupies.
The visit followed talks between Lebanon and Israel that wrapped up in Italy.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 July 2026 at 07:48:30 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source does not provide the exact location or scope of the two pilot zones.
The source does not say whether Aoun's planned meeting with Trump has taken place.
Source
AFP news report published on .