Lebanese President and US Secretary of State Agree on Completing Israeli Withdrawal from Southern Lebanon

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington, marking the first visit by a Lebanese president to the White House since 2009. During the meeting, Rubio praised Lebanon's willingness to pursue peace and expressed optimism about the US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. A Lebanese source told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that Aoun and Rubio agreed on completing the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Rubio posted on X that he commended Aoun's courage and his government's efforts to reclaim their land and advance peace, emphasizing the US commitment to supporting the trilateral framework and Lebanon's security and future. President Aoun urged the US to deepen support for Lebanon and its army, which is expected to take direct responsibility for pilot areas in southern Lebanon to demonstrate its readiness to confront Hezbollah.

Aoun stressed that for the agreement to progress, Israel must withdraw from the agreed pilot zones to allow the process to begin. He also clarified that Lebanon will act independently in the region and will not accept any overarching agreements imposed without its consent, indirectly addressing Iran.