Lebanon's Aoun to press Trump for Israeli troop withdrawal as pressure builds to disarm Hezbollah

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 21, marking the first official visit by a Lebanese head of state to the White House in nearly 20 years. Aoun's agenda includes presenting a plan aimed at disarming Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, and securing Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops currently occupy significant portions of the region. This meeting occurs during a critical period for Lebanon, as many citizens remain displaced following Israeli strikes, and Hezbollah has rejected the government's direct negotiations with Israel regarding disarmament. Aoun intends to request Trump to exert pressure on Israel to implement a US-brokered agreement from June 26, which is designed to facilitate the disarmament of Hezbollah. The Lebanese military is currently moving into areas of southern Lebanon under a deal with Israel that includes the establishment of pilot "safe zones." These zones are part of Israel's conditions for withdrawing its forces, which include the disarmament of Hezbollah. The situation in southern Lebanon remains tense, particularly following rocket attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel. Israel insists that the disarmament of Hezbollah is a prerequisite for its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, a task that the Lebanese army is likely unable to accomplish independently. Consequently, Israel has initiated a program to transfer control of three Lebanese villages to the Lebanese Army, which is part of efforts to assert Beirut's authority in the region. The meeting between Aoun and Trump is viewed as an opportunity for Lebanon to gain support in addressing these pressing issues.