Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington, DC, on a four-day official visit seeking the backing of the United States to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He is also requesting support for the Lebanese army as it moves to assert control over areas long dominated by Hezbollah.

Aoun arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday with his wife, according to the Lebanese presidency. On Sunday, he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed Washington's support for the full implementation of an agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel on June 26. Rubio warned that Lebanon would “never be fully at peace” as long as the Hezbollah issue remained unresolved.

Aoun is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, July 21st, before concluding his visit. This meeting follows another round of US-mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Rome last week, where negotiators discussed how to implement the June 26 agreement.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced on Monday that the planned gradual withdrawal, known as the “pilot zone programme,” has begun. The Lebanese army has started taking over the pilot zone in the south, with villagers returning amid the Israel deal.

Sources