Lebanese President Joseph Aoun left Beirut on Saturday for Washington, where he is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on July 21.

The visit, made at Trump’s invitation, comes as US-led efforts to manage the Lebanon-Israel file move into a more sensitive stage. Aoun is expected to discuss the ceasefire, the situation in southern Lebanon, and Israel’s withdrawal from the border area.

The talks will also cover bilateral ties, security, and economic developments in Lebanon. The Washington trip is set to be the first by a Lebanese head of state to the White House since Michel Sleiman’s visit in 2009.

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Will Washington unlock the next chapter?

The Lebanese presidency said the meeting will focus on ways to strengthen the ceasefire, secure Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and “restore security and stability” across the country.

It also said the talks will address extending the Lebanese state’s authority across all of its territory. The discussions would center on direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and on implementing the US-sponsored framework deal.

The United States, as mediator, has the ability to exert pressure on Israel to advance the implementation of the framework agreement.

A delicate bargain takes centre stage

The meeting comes after the sixth round of US-sponsored Lebanese-Israeli negotiations concluded in Rome on Wednesday.

Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-mediated framework agreement on June 26 that provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, beginning with a pilot model in two zones that have not been publicly identified.

The arrangement does not set a timetable for withdrawal. Instead, it links progress to the Lebanese army taking full security responsibility in evacuated areas and to the disarmament of armed groups, a reference to Hezbollah.

The talks in Washington are also expected to cover support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, support for Lebanon’s economy and the future of UNIFIL, whose mandate expires this year and whose gradual withdrawal is scheduled to begin in 2027.

A truce still walking on eggshells

Even as diplomacy continues, the security situation in southern Lebanon remains volatile.

Lebanese state media said Israeli attacks hit two towns on the edge of the border zone on Saturday. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah cell near Tebnit after identifying a Hezbollah drone in the area and said the activity violated ceasefire understandings.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. Israeli officials have said their troops will remain in the security zone as long as Hezbollah is armed, while Hezbollah has rejected calls to disarm.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health says more than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed and more than a million displaced by Israel’s war on Lebanon since March.

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FAQs

Q1: Why is Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meeting Donald Trump?

Joseph Aoun is meeting Donald Trump to discuss US-backed Lebanon-Israel talks, the ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and broader security issues.

Q2: What are the Lebanon-Israel talks focused on?

The negotiations are focused on implementing the US-mediated framework agreement, strengthening the ceasefire and advancing Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.