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U.S. President Donald Trump pledged support for Lebanon during talks at the White House with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who visited Washington seeking to advance lasting peace following months of conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group, The Associated Press reported.
Calling Lebanon a country that had been "treated very badly," Trump said the United States would extend the respect it deserved.
"We are going to treat it properly, and we're going to give it the respect that it deserves. We're going to help it a lot," Trump told Aoun, who concluded a four-day visit to Washington on July 21.
Asked about the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, Trump said, "They're in the process of doing that," without providing further details.
Aoun said his vision for peace aligned with Trump's.
"President Trump's vision coincides with my vision for peace and stability in Lebanon and the region, and we will be able to achieve it together," he said.
Hours later, Trump announced that he would allow U.S. airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon for the first time in more than 40 years.
"After meeting with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, who has done a remarkable job working to transform his country, 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. Hopefully, other countries will do the same," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, the meeting reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the two countries and focused on the security, political and economic priorities needed to strengthen Lebanon's stability and prosperity.
The statement said Aoun stressed the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, describing it as a fundamental step toward strengthening stability and enabling the Lebanese state to exercise its full sovereignty.
According to the presidency, the two leaders also discussed strengthening U.S. support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors, supporting Lebanon's economic recovery and reconstruction, and encouraging U.S. investment in the country.