Aoun and Trump discuss Lebanon ceasefire in Washington

President Aoun had hoped that the meeting with Trump would lead to US pressure on Israel to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. The US government is currently mediating between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to strike targets in Lebanon and maintains troops in the south of the country. The ceasefire agreement does not mention an Israeli withdrawal from the ten-kilometer-wide security zone along the border in southern Lebanon.

Beirut and Hezbollah regard the Israeli-controlled and self-declared "security zone" as a violation of international law. The roughly 620 square kilometer area corresponds to about six percent of the country's surface area.

Role of Hezbollah and the Lebanese government

Hezbollah is not involved in the talks. The Lebanese government is not a party to the war in the conflict. Hezbollah is supported by Iran.

On April 17, 2026, President Joseph Aoun delivered a televised address to the Lebanese people from the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut. The ceasefire is intended to end more than six weeks of war with Israel, in which nearly 2,300 people were killed and more than one million displaced in Lebanon.