Sources from 'Al Arabiya' and 'Al Hadath' have confirmed that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed Beirut for Washington, D.C. this Saturday morning. His visit is politically and security-wise significant as indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome have made notable progress, described as positive by the U.S., amid signs of moving from political understandings to field steps, starting with limited Israeli withdrawals in southern Lebanon.
The visit coincides with U.S. efforts to launch the first phases of the framework agreement reached in late June, which calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army, aiming to end the military confrontation that has persisted since the renewal of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
President Aoun is accompanied on his first official visit by Neemat Aoun and several advisors. His discussions with senior U.S. officials are expected to be pivotal in assessing the recent negotiations' outcomes and discussing the guarantees needed for moving to implementation.
Progress in Rome
Rome hosted the sixth round of direct talks between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations under U.S. auspices. This round was the first after signing the framework agreement in Washington.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut announced that both parties reached an agreement on the general structure and implementation mechanism of 'experimental zones,' with plans to finalize technical details and initiate application in the coming days, alongside launching extensive technical discussions to implement the rest of the agreement's terms.
Sources from 'Al Arabiya' and 'Al Hadath' recently revealed that the Israeli withdrawal from the first experimental zones would begin before President Aoun's visit to Washington. This is seen as a practical indication of the seriousness of the new path and a supportive message for the Lebanese presidency before its meetings in Washington.
Withdrawal Deadlock and Hezbollah's Arms
Despite the progress, significant disputes remain, revolving around the conditions for the Israeli withdrawal from border areas. American sources report that Lebanon demands a comprehensive ceasefire before implementing any phase of the agreement, with a clear and binding timeline for the Israeli withdrawal.
Conversely, Israel stipulates that any withdrawal must come with guarantees of the Lebanese army's ability to prevent Hezbollah's return to the areas being vacated. Meanwhile, the United States demands a Lebanese commitment to preventing any military activity by Hezbollah in the south.
Washington has also officially separated the Lebanese negotiation track from its talks with Iran, although it continues to monitor the potential impact on Lebanon's field situation due to any regional escalation.
U.S. Support for Lebanese Track
Before his departure, President Joseph Aoun stated that 'Washington is now listening to Lebanon,' and the Lebanese dossier is directly on President Donald Trump's desk. He described the current agreement with Israel as the 'best possible' given the circumstances.
These statements align with indications of growing U.S. interest in closing the southern Lebanese front, as part of a broader vision to reduce tensions in the Middle East after months of escalation.
In this context, Axios reported that President Trump informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on July 9th of the need to begin the redeployment of Israeli forces and withdrawal from Lebanon and Syria, warning that continued military presence in these areas could lead to new escalation.