Lebanon’s president will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to push for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon. This meeting comes as Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington.
Background
Lebanon and Israel announced a framework agreement on June 26, setting a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon as well as the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The agreement also lays out steps toward an eventual peace agreement between both countries.
The U.S. State Department announced that operations in three villages deemed part of a pilot zone had begun. The three villages, Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbieh, are not under Israeli military control.
U.S. Support
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanon’s president on Sunday and said Washington will continue to endorse the Lebanese agreement and support its full implementation. Rubio warned that Lebanon will never be fully at peace as long as the Hezbollah issue is not resolved.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
