President Donald Trump phoned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun overnight and congratulated him on the signing of the framework agreement with Israel, according to Abu Ali Express. Trump said the United States will provide Lebanon with everything needed to implement the deal and expressed hope to host Aoun at the White House soon.
President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun overnight, congratulating him on the signing of the framework agreement with Israel and pledging full U.S. support for its implementation, according to Abu Ali Express. Trump said the United States will provide Lebanon with everything necessary to implement the deal and expressed hope to host Aoun at the White House soon. The call, reported at 17:34 Jerusalem on Saturday, is the second confirmed conversation between the two leaders on the agreement, following an earlier call that same afternoon, also first reported at 17:34 Jerusalem by Israeli journalist Gili Cohen (N12) and later confirmed by American and Lebanese officials via Barak Ravid (N12).
As The Zioneer reported on Saturday at 17:34 Jerusalem, the initial version of the call was first reported by Gili Cohen (N12), who stated the conversation had taken place and noted Aoun was expected at the White House next month. Shortly afterward, at the same timestamp, Barak Ravid (N12) added an on-record confirmation from U.S. and Lebanese officials, corroborating Trump's congratulations on the framework agreement. Within hours, at 17:34 Jerusalem, Abu Ali Express reported the latest details: Trump's pledge of full implementation support and the invitation to the White House. The new development thus builds on a thread that progressed from an expected call (version 1) through a one-source report (version 2) to multi-channel official confirmation (versions 3-4).
Against the wider diplomatic backdrop, The Zioneer reported on June 22 that Aoun is expected to travel to Washington within the next two weeks for the first visit by a Lebanese leader to the White House in over a decade. The U.S. engagement with Lebanon and Israel follows the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which Aoun publicly welcomed on June 15, according to a report by Ynet. Trump also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 20 amid reported U.S. frustration with Israeli military strategy in Lebanon.
No details were disclosed on the agreement's implementation timeline or the specific nature of U.S. assistance. The exact content and length of the call beyond Trump's remarks have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether the White House has issued an official readout.
4 developments
- DevelopingLebanese Army chief Joseph Aoun hails US-Iran MOU, says people expect practical steps
- DevelopingLebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks with Iranian FM Araghchi after MOU announcement
- StrongLebanese President Aoun insists no settlement will be made at Lebanon's expense
- DevelopingLebanese President Aoun: No compromise except full Israeli withdrawal
Source and signal
- Internal intake