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Trump Meets Lebanese President in Washington, Pilot Zones Planned.

7/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on July 21.
Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome to create two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, with Israeli withdrawals and Lebanese army deployment.
A U.S. official said the zones will be third-party verified to confirm no Hezbollah fighters, and that guidelines will be finalized soon with technical meetings to follow in Rome.

History

Historical Context

UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 on 11 August 2006, ending the Lebanon war with a cease-fire that required Israeli withdrawal and limited armed forces south of the Litani River. The resolution left Hezbollah’s disarmament unimplemented, and the group has since built an arsenal of about 150,000 rockets. Today, U.S.-backed pilot zones echo the 2006 framework by seeking third-party verification of Hezbollah’s absence along the border.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on July 21.
Israel and Lebanon agreed in Rome to create two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, with Israeli withdrawals and Lebanese army deployment.
A U.S. official said the zones will be third-party verified to confirm no Hezbollah fighters, and that guidelines will be finalized soon with technical meetings to follow in Rome.

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