Aoun seeks Trump backing for Israel pullback as south Lebanon ‘pilot zones’ begin

What Happened

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Washington for a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump, as the first 'pilot zone' operations began in southern Lebanon under a US-brokered framework agreement concluded on 26 June. US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that pilot zone operations had commenced in the villages of Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, under the supervision of the US-led Military Coordination Group for Lebanon. The Lebanese army later announced its deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, while a senior military official told MEE that Israeli forces remain physically present in parts of that village; in Froun and Srifa, Israeli troops are not directly present but maintain military oversight. A senior Lebanese official familiar with the visit said Aoun would ask Trump to use US leverage to press Israel to implement the pilot zones, amid concerns in Beirut that Israel might slow the process into a phased 'wait-and-see' sequence, beginning with Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and assessing the Lebanese army's performance before moving to other areas.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Trump-Aoun meeting and the start of pilot zone deployments represent a critical test of the US-brokered framework to end cross-border conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Success could lead to an Israeli pullback, Lebanese army deployment in the south, and a reduction in Hezbollah's armed presence, bolstering state sovereignty. Failure risks prolonging Israeli occupation, deepening domestic divisions in Lebanon, and potentially triggering renewed hostilities.

Watch For

The outcome of the Aoun-Trump meeting on Tuesday; whether Israel implements the three pilot zones simultaneously or adopts a phased approach starting with Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh; the Lebanese army's ability to disarm Hezbollah in deployed areas and any resulting friction; Hezbollah's response to army actions and the framework; and subsequent rounds of US-mediated negotiations.