The Lebanese and US presidents are scheduled to discuss a ceasefire, south Lebanon and Israel’s withdrawal.
Published July 18, 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will visit the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump as the US-led effort to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah enters a new phase.
Aoun, who is traveling at the invitation of President Trump, left for Washington on Saturday.
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He will meet with the US president and other senior officials next week to discuss ways to strengthen the ceasefire, secure Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and “restore security and stability” across Lebanon, a statement from the Lebanese president’s office said.
The talks will also focus on extending the Lebanese state’s powers over its entire territory.
This is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since Michel Sulaiman met with then-President Barack Obama in 2009.
The visit came days after Lebanese and Israeli officials concluded separate U.S.-mediated talks in Rome. U.S. officials said the two countries have agreed on the next step of creating a “test zone” in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces will begin to withdraw and the Lebanese army will take over security.
The test zone is part of a framework agreement reached in June that aims to gradually end Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon. However, the agreement does not specify a deadline for Israeli military withdrawal. Rather, withdrawal is tied to the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups, terms of which Hezbollah rejects.
Israeli attacks continue
Despite ongoing negotiations, Israeli forces remain within a 10 km (6 mile) so-called “safe zone” along the border and continue airstrikes.
Lebanese state media reported on Saturday new Israeli attacks on two towns on the edge of the Tire and Nabatiyeh regions.
The Israeli army said in a statement that its soldiers attacked a Hezbollah cell near Tebnit in southern Lebanon after identifying a Hezbollah drone there, adding that the activity violated the ceasefire agreement. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Israeli officials have said Israeli forces will remain in the security zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed.
Hezbollah has rejected both negotiations and a framework agreement, and has rejected calls to disarm. The group maintains that only continued pressure from ally Iran can bring about an end to the war and Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.
The war evolved from months of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, following the start of Israeli massacres in Gaza in October 2023. The conflict escalated into full-scale war in March after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
Although there is currently a ceasefire in place, Israeli forces remain in some areas of southern Lebanon and continue to carry out regular attacks as negotiations continue towards a long-term settlement.
Israel’s war against Lebanon since March has killed more than 4,000 Lebanese and displaced more than 1 million people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
