Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and his wife have landed in the United States, according to Abu Ali Express. The visit is the first by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since 2009. Aoun is expected to meet President Donald Trump and senior administration officials.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and his wife have landed in Washington, D.C., Abu Ali Express reported Sunday morning. The landing confirms the delegation's arrival, which The Zioneer first reported on Saturday based on Israeli media reports. The visit is the first by a Lebanese head of state to the U.S. capital since 2009.
The Zioneer reported throughout Saturday (July 18) that Aoun had departed for Washington, that he was traveling with a scheduled meeting with President Trump on July 21, that he had arrived in the city, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not making the trip. The arrival was initially reported by Israeli media, and the landing on Sunday morning provides independent confirmation.
The visit follows the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed in late June. As The Zioneer reported on June 28, President Trump invited Aoun to the White House during a phone call, pledging U.S. support for the deal. A formal invitation was reported by Reuters on July 8, and on July 15, reports indicated the meeting would take place on Tuesday.
The exact timing of the White House meeting has not been officially confirmed by either government. The agenda also remains unannounced, though it is expected to focus on the ceasefire in southern Lebanon and Israel's withdrawal.
7 developments
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- DevelopingRubio spoke to Netanyahu and Lebanon's Aoun overnight to resolve final differences
- StrongTrump calls Lebanese President Aoun, says US will back Israel deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake