On Tuesday, July 21st, 2026, former President Donald Trump announced that American carriers would be permitted to resume direct flights to Lebanon, ending a suspension that has lasted more than four decades. The original suspension was enacted in 1985 by Ronald Reagan’s administration following the hijacking of TWA flight 847.

Trump made the announcement in a social media post after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington, D.C. He stated, “I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land.”

During the meeting, which concluded Aoun’s four-day visit to the White House—the first by a Lebanese president since 2009—Trump pledged to assist Lebanon “a lot,” though he did not provide specific details. He also remarked, “It’s been a very badly treated place and country and we’re going to have it properly treated and treated with the respect it deserves.”

Aoun’s visit aimed to promote long-term calm following months of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. While the US has sought peace in Lebanon, recent escalations involving Iran have complicated regional stability. Trump recently expressed limited interest in engaging in talks with Iran’s leader to end the ongoing war, at least for the time being.

This development marks a significant shift in US-Lebanon relations, potentially facilitating increased travel and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Sources