President Joseph Aoun is preparing for a visit to the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump before the end of July, as part of strengthening the framework agreement with Israel and anticipating its translation and preparation for the start of a "military workshop" in the South under direct U.S. sponsorship and monitoring.
During his meeting with Trump, Aoun will discuss the reality of Lebanon since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1949 to the present day, focusing on the Israeli treatment of Lebanon throughout all these decades and its impact on the residents of the South. The official visit comes after Benjamin Netanyahu has met Trump. While the joint materials between Lebanon and Israel will be on Trump's table, reports of a meeting between Aoun and Netanyahu are not true, noting that the President "is not interested in this matter" and cannot accept it amid ongoing Israeli assaults on Lebanese citizens and the violation of their land. If Aoun and Netanyahu happen to meet in the same room, he will leave immediately. Trump's call to Aoun, which lasted 17 minutes, was "good," and they agreed on several points to continue discussing them at the White House.
Trump expressed understanding for what he heard and conveyed positive intentions, showing sentiment towards Lebanon. Undoubtedly, the direct meeting between the two presidents will drive them to open the file of the framework agreement widely in order to implement it, while scrutinizing Netanyahu's influence in America and his exploitation of the matter in the Knesset elections.
Aoun admits for the hundredth time that this agreement is "not ideal," but he links acceptance of it to several facts on the ground and the balance of power in the South that favors Israel. This will not prevent him from adhering to his rights and reclaiming his occupied land, while commending the significant role of the Lebanese negotiating delegation in Washington, both diplomatically and militarily, denying any distance between the two. It is known that the security annex was approved by the officers, who requested not to take a photo with the Israelis in respect for the martyrs of the army and the residents of the South.
Aoun reveals to "An-Nahar" that military communications have made significant progress and will become apparent on the ground starting from the first experimental area in Al-Zoutrayn in Nabatieh, amid fears of Israel attacking Tal Ali Al-Tahir, at which point the situation will change.
The members of the Lebanese delegation have communicated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concerning this hill, for it to be under the control of the Lebanese army, and Netanyahu approved the proposal that was rejected by "Hezbollah." It has become clear that the "mechanism" committee no longer exists in its previous form, transforming it into a triad (American-Lebanese-Israeli) that will operate under the name (MCG4L) chaired by General Joseph Clearfield, managed from his embassy in Aoukar, with no direct coordination between the Lebanese and Israeli officers.
Clearfield has a good relationship with Army Commander General Rudolf Hekel, noting that France does not participate in the final formula, while continuing to prepare for a conference to support the army in cooperation with Saudi Arabia. In the meantime, Aoun confirms that there is no truth to all the discussions about the establishment of a force or brigade from the army to carry out the mission or the subjection of its officers to American tests. He clarifies that this force will be from any brigade operating in the South or from outside of it, with no distinction between officers, and "we have complete confidence in our officers and soldiers who work under the institution's umbrella and its leadership and make great sacrifices."