Lebanon’s Aoun to meet Trump to put pressure on Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will make his first visit to the White House to present to President Donald Trump a plan on how to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.
Aoun, who served as commander of Lebanon’s US-backed army before being elected president last year, will be the first Lebanese head of state to visit the White House in nearly 20 years, where he will meet Trump face to face for the first time.
Tuesday’s meeting comes at a crucial time for Lebanon, where Israeli troops occupy part of the country’s south and hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced.
Hezbollah has flatly rejected the government’s direct talks with Israel and the state’s efforts to disarm Israel.
In comments released by his office last week, Aoun said he would ask Trump to “apply the necessary pressure on Israel” to implement the US-brokered June 26 agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
This agreement aims to disarm Hezbollah, ensure the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops and pave the way for peaceful relations between the two countries.
A Lebanese official said Aoun will present Trump with a written proposal on how to destroy Hezbollah’s massive arsenal.
The official said Aoun believes only Trump has the power needed to pressure Israel to withdraw its troops and help Lebanon regain its sovereignty.
Current problems started in March when Hezbollah opened fire on Israel in support of Iran, which was under attack by the US and Israel.
Hezbollah’s attack triggered a fierce Israeli air and ground offensive that killed more than 4,300 people, including nearly 800 children, women and medics, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
There is no distinction between civilians and combatants in pay. Hezbollah did not announce a death toll for its fighters.
After the war began, Aoun quickly called for direct talks with Israel; This was a historic step for a state that has been repeatedly occupied by Israel since 1978. This led to the highest level of face-to-face contacts between the two countries in decades.
This also made him the focus of fierce criticism from Hezbollah and its supporters.
Aoun stood firm and criticized Hezbollah for starting the war and said Lebanon was being destroyed for the sake of Iran.
Still, he stopped short of accepting Trump’s invitation for him to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
