Lebanon's Aoun to meet Trump as pilot zones begin in the south and pressure builds on Hezbollah

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington for talks with Donald Trump as the United States pushes ahead with a plan to give the Lebanese army control over pilot zones in southern Lebanon. The meeting is expected to focus on Israeli withdrawal from the south, US support for Lebanon and the continuing pressure on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah. It comes amid renewed regional tensions and a fragile security arrangement along the border with Israel.

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Aoun flew from Beirut to the Washington, DC, area on Saturday and met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, according to the Lebanese presidency. Rubio said support for the Lebanese government was the best way to defeat Hezbollah, while also praising what he described as Beirut's effort to reclaim sovereignty and dismantle the group's armed infrastructure. The Lebanese side said Aoun wants Washington to turn its interest in Lebanon into concrete backing for the army and the economy.

The talks come a day after the United States announced the start of implementation of an agreement that places the Lebanese army in charge of pilot zones in the south, mainly just outside areas occupied by Israel after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into war in March. Under the framework, Israeli forces are meant to withdraw from southern Lebanon as Lebanese troops deploy, but the arrangement is contingent on Hezbollah giving up its weapons. Hezbollah has rejected both the deal and the wider negotiations behind it, while Israel has said it will not withdraw while the group remains armed.

The visit carries political weight because Aoun is the first Lebanese president invited to Washington since 2009. He was elected in early 2025 with Western support and has vowed to disarm Hezbollah, marking a significant shift in Lebanese politics. His critics argue that Beirut has limited leverage in talks with Israel, but his government is relying on US backing to try to secure an initial withdrawal from the first pilot zone and to strengthen Lebanese institutions.

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The issue matters beyond the immediate border because it sits at the centre of Lebanon's sovereignty, the balance of power inside the country and the future of the ceasefire framework in the south. Hezbollah remains one of the most powerful armed actors in Lebanon, and any move to curb its arsenal would have major political and security consequences. The arrangement also reflects the broader role of the United States in trying to shape the post-war security order along the frontier.

The conflict has already had a heavy human cost. According to authorities, Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon, even though violence has eased in recent weeks. The current diplomacy is taking place against that backdrop, with the Lebanese army expected to take on a larger role on the ground if the pilot-zone plan advances.

Aoun is also expected to seek more aid for the army, which would face a difficult task if asked to enforce any disarmament process. What remains unclear is how far the Lebanese army's control of the pilot zones will extend and whether the arrangement can produce any near-term Israeli withdrawal. It is also not clear what commitments Trump may offer on military or economic support, or how Hezbollah will respond if the plan moves forward.

The next developments to watch are any statement from the White House, any reaction from Israel and whether Lebanon can present the pilot-zone framework as a workable first step toward a broader settlement.

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington as pressure builds on Beirut to move ahead with disarming Hezbollah. The meeting comes a day after the United States announced the start of an agreement that gives the Lebanese army control over pilot zones in southern Lebanon. Those zones are mainly just outside areas Israel occupied after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the wider Middle East war in March.

The arrangement is part of US-mediated negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over security in the south. Under the plan, the Israeli military is meant to withdraw from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys, beginning with two pilot zones. But the deal is tied to Hezbollah giving up its weapons, a condition the group has rejected, and Israel has said it will not pull out while Hezbollah remains armed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting Aoun on Sunday that "as long as that problem exists, Lebanon will never truly get peace". Aoun, a former army commander, has criticised Hezbollah's decision to pull Lebanon into war and has vowed to disarm the group since being elected president in early 2025 with Western support. He is the first Lebanese president to be invited to Washington since 2009, underlining the political weight of the visit.

The meeting also comes after Rubio praised what he called the Lebanese government's effort to reclaim sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure. The issue matters because it sits at the centre of Lebanon's sovereignty, the balance of power inside the country and the future of the border with Israel. Hezbollah remains one of the most powerful armed actors in Lebanon, and any move to curb its arsenal would have major political and security consequences.

Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon, according to authorities, showing the scale of the conflict's impact even as violence has eased in recent weeks. The current diplomacy also reflects the wider role of the United States in trying to shape a security framework for the frontier. The pilot-zone plan is intended as a first step, with the Lebanese army taking responsibility on the ground while broader negotiations continue.

Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the meeting shows continued US interest in Lebanon, but also raises concern about what more Beirut may be asked to do. What remains unclear is how far the Lebanese army's control of the pilot zones will extend and whether the arrangement will lead to any Israeli withdrawal soon. It is also not clear what specific commitments Aoun will seek from Trump during the Washington meeting.

The next developments to watch are any statement from the White House, any response from Israel and whether Lebanon can present the pilot-zone plan as a workable first step.

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