President Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has begun its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, highlighting a U.S.-backed security framework that he said prompted the move and offers Lebanon an opportunity to break free from Hezbollah's influence.
Speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office, Trump stated that Israeli forces are "in the process of withdrawing" under an agreement facilitated by Washington. He emphasized that the success of this phase hinges on Lebanon's ability to secure territory previously controlled by the Iran-backed group.
"There’s a Hezbollah problem, but we’ve done some things that I think the world will take notice," Trump said. He described Lebanon as having been "very badly treated" and vowed to ensure it is treated with respect.
The security framework aims to address Iran's influence in Lebanon through its proxy group Hezbollah. Under the agreement, Israel will withdraw its forces once Hezbollah is fully removed, with the Lebanese Armed Forces expected to assume control of the territory.
President Aoun, making the first visit by a Lebanese president to the White House in 17 years, called the U.S.-facilitated framework agreement with Israel a historic step. "I would like to thank President Trump … for the historic achievement that we did together by signing the framework with the ultimate objective of ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever," Aoun said.
Trump indicated his belief in the agreement's potential, stating, "We’re going to make it work."
The withdrawal follows an announcement by the U.S. State Department that Israel would begin pulling troops from parts of southern Lebanon this week, after months of negotiations. This move is intended to replace Israeli positions with the Lebanese Armed Forces.
This phased withdrawal is reportedly occurring through "pilot zones," where Israeli troops leave and the Lebanese Armed Forces immediately move in to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence. U.S. and Israeli officials have stated this approach is designed to test the Lebanese military's capability to secure territory and avoid repeating past cease-fire failures.
During the meeting, Aoun requested continued American political support and backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces, referring to them as the "backbone of security and stability." He warned against the collapse of Lebanon's military, drawing parallels to the country's 1975 civil war, which began amid the disintegration of state institutions and the rise of militias.
Trump expressed confidence in Aoun and suggested that Lebanon has a chance to move past years of conflict. He also alluded to potential future diplomatic achievements, mentioning Lebanon's "important place" as his administration works to expand the Abraham Accords in the Middle East.
"We are going to solve a lot of problems," Trump said. "We’ve already solved some of them for Lebanon."