Lebanon’s goal to end hostilities with Israel ‘forever’, says president

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told US President Donald Trump that Lebanon’s long-term aim is a permanent end to hostilities with Israel. The comments were made during Aoun’s visit to Washington, where he is seeking US backing for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The report said the discussion followed a US-backed framework agreement, but it did not provide further details on the agreement’s terms.

According to the publisher, Aoun framed Lebanon’s objective as ending the conflict “forever,” signaling an effort to move beyond recurring cross-border violence and toward a more durable political or security arrangement. The reported appeal to Trump places Washington in a central diplomatic role, particularly because US support could influence any negotiations over Israeli military positions and security guarantees.

The development matters because southern Lebanon has long been a flashpoint between Israel and armed groups operating in Lebanon, especially along the border area. Any Israeli withdrawal, if negotiated, would likely require arrangements addressing border security, the role of the Lebanese state, and the risk of renewed fighting. Those broader issues were not detailed in Al Jazeera’s short report.

Al Jazeera published the item on July 21, 2026, as a newsfeed video. The available text does not state how Israel responded, whether specific withdrawal commitments were made, or what timeline the US-backed framework might include.