Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed for the US, accompanied by First Lady Nehmat Aoun, tonday for holding talks with President Donald Trump revolving around the parallel conflict going on in the country’s southern borders between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, the two leaders will hold a summit at the White House, while Aoun is also scheduled to meet several senior US officials.
“A Lebanese-US summit will be held at the White House,” according to a readout from the president’s office.
“President Aoun is also scheduled to hold meetings and consultations with a number of US officials to discuss the situation in Lebanon and ways to consolidate the ceasefire, restore security and stability across the country, particularly in the south, secure Israel’s withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it occupies, and extend the authority of the Lebanese state over all parts of the country.”
Trump, who has repeatedly praised Aoun, had previously invited the Lebanese president to Washington. Their meeting is scheduled to take place on July 21.
Aoun’s departure came as violence continues unabated in the country’s southern borders.
According to the Lebanese army, one soldier was killed and two others were injured today after a device exploded near an army vehicle in the town of Al-Mansouri. The military said the explosion was caused by a “suspicious object”, but it was not immediately clear who was responsible.
Under the existing ceasefire arrangements, the Lebanese army is expected to deploy across southern Lebanon after IDF forces withdraw from the security zone.
However, Israel has said it will not complete its withdrawal until the Iran-backed-Islamist group is fully disarmed and removed from the area, a prospect that currently appears unlikely given Hezbollah’s refusal to give up its arms which it has called tantamount to surrender, as well as its continued influence in Beirut’s political circles.
According to a July 15 report by the UN Security Council, at least 33 Lebanese soldiers have been killed since Israel expanded its military operations in southern Lebanon on March 2.
