Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrives at the White House on Tuesday for his first meeting with President Trump, marking a critical moment as Israeli forces begin their initial withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire framework brokered by the U.S. last week in Rome.
The timing is deliberate. Aoun's visit underscores the Trump administration's strategy to strengthen Lebanon's government and military while containing Hezbollah's influence. The Lebanese leader seeks military aid, political backing, and American leverage to ensure Israel follows through on a staged pullback from occupied territory.
On Monday, the State Department confirmed that Israeli troops started withdrawing from several villages in southern Lebanon as part of what officials are calling a "pilot zone" test. Three initial villages will be cleared and secured by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which must remove Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure and prevent the militia from regrouping. Israel launched its ground invasion last March in response to Hezbollah attacks.
"The establishment of these initial pilot zones represents real progress on the ground," a State Department official said, adding that the Trump administration hopes the limited withdrawals will "build confidence" between the two countries and "create the momentum needed to expand the process."
The pullback hinges on verification. U.S. and Israeli officials are still haggling over who will inspect cleared zones before the next phase of withdrawal begins. An Israeli defense official called the initial pullout "a test for the Lebanese Armed Forces' sovereignty in the three pilot villages."
State Secretary Marco Rubio, the administration's point person on Lebanon, framed the strategy differently in recent days. Rather than viewing this purely as a military operation, Rubio emphasized rebuilding Lebanon's institutions and attracting foreign investment to southern regions. His goal is to make Aoun and the LAF the engines of prosperity, not Hezbollah.
"This is not just about military stuff," Rubio told reporters. "This is about how can we attract more U.S. and international investment into Lebanon." He wants Aoun to return home touting concrete wins for ordinary Lebanese people.
Trump and Aoun have never met face-to-face, though two recent phone calls between them reportedly went well. Trump has grown personally engaged with the Lebanon file over recent months and is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accelerate the withdrawal timeline. Both leaders understand that real momentum on a permanent settlement may have to wait until after Israeli elections scheduled for October.
The U.S. made clear it will not tolerate Hezbollah attempts to sabotage the arrangement. "Any attempt by Hezbollah to derail, infiltrate, or re-arm in these zones would seriously harm the prospects for reconstruction and peace, and the interests of the Lebanese people," a State Department official warned.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump is betting that a stable Lebanese government can do what the Israeli military cannot, but that equation only works if Aoun delivers results fast."
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