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Trump Promises US Help for Lebanon During White House Meeting with Aoun

US President Donald J Trump (R) shakes hands with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (L) during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 July 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald J Trump (R) shakes hands with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (L) during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 July 2026. (EPA)
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Trump Promises US Help for Lebanon During White House Meeting with Aoun

US President Donald J Trump (R) shakes hands with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (L) during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 July 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald J Trump (R) shakes hands with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (L) during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 July 2026. (EPA)

President Donald Trump pledged to help Lebanon “a lot” during a White House meeting on Tuesday with the country's leader, Joseph Aoun, who came to push for long-term calm after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. 

“It’s been a very badly treated place and country and we’re going to have it properly treated and treated with the respect it deserves,” Trump told Aoun during a meeting which wrapped up the Lebanese leader's four-day visit to Washington. “We’re gonna help it a lot," he said, without giving concrete details. 

The US has pushed for peace in Lebanon but been increasingly distracted by a new round of escalation with the war in Iran, which has destabilized much of the Middle East. On Wednesday, Trump said he had little interest in talks with Iran's leader to end the war — at least for now. 

Lebanon and Israel have held rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Aoun's White House visit was the first by a Lebanese president since 2009. 

Lebanon hopes the talks result in Israeli troops withdrawing from large swaths of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy, and the Lebanese military receiving support to assert full control in areas where Hezbollah had held sway. 

Trump said of Israel’s army fully withdrawing from Lebanon, “They’re in the process of doing that. They’re in the process of redeploying” but didn't elaborate. 

Aoun told Trump, “Your vision is peace,” calling it Trump's “legacy.” 

The US president responded by joking, “I do agree with that" and said Aoun was handsome and “knows how to get to me,” adding, “Now he can have anything.” 

Framework agreement is being tested  

Lebanon and Israel announced a “framework agreement” on June 26, setting a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw and for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which for decades had a strong presence in southern Lebanon. 

It also lays out steps toward an eventual peace agreement between the countries, which have never held formal diplomatic ties and have been nominally in a state of war for nearly 80 years after Israel’s establishment. 

Trump noted Tuesday of Lebanon, “There’s a Hezbollah problem” and suggested that he personally could speak with Hezbollah if Aoun wanted him to. He also floated the idea of having Syria intervene to fight Hezbollah — though didn't fully commit to that. 

Such a concept would be highly unpopular in Lebanon and potentially embarrass Aoun. 

Meanwhile, the State Department announced Monday that operations in three villages deemed part of a “pilot zone” had begun, without giving details. Two of the villages, Froun and Srifa, are not under Israeli military control and the Lebanese army is present, while Israeli forces are in part of Zawtar al-Gharbieh. 

The Lebanese army in a statement said it was preparing for Israel to withdraw from Zawtar al-Gharbieh and that it had begun deploying troops Tuesday.  

The Israeli military said it “will adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas in order to enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to carry out their mission,” without specifying the location. 

The Lebanese military later said Israeli troops fired near that area in Zawtar al-Gharbieh, without giving details, and warned it could delay deployment. 

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with military guidelines, said the withdrawal had not yet begun. 

Village mayor waits for safety to be confirmed  

Abed Ezzeldine, mayor of Zawtar al-Gharbieh, said they were waiting for the Lebanese military to say whether it's safe for residents to check on their homes after they fully deploy and patrol the area. He was concerned about safety, given that the Israeli military is still present in a village next door, while Israeli strikes continue nearby. 

“The villages are intertwined, so we don’t feel safe because the Israelis are present there, they’re on our borders and are not very far from us,” Ezzeldine told The Associated Press, who said Zawtar al-Gharbieh is uninhabitable. 

“Once the army gives us permission to enter Zawtar al-Gharbieh, we as civilians will go in, but only to check it out and see how things are and then we will leave,” he said. "We can’t stay because the infrastructure is completely damaged and houses have been leveled. They (the Israelis) have bulldozed the roads.” 

The Lebanese military last week increased its presence in some of the areas expected to be included in the pilot zone, including the three villages, with troops patrolling and setting up checkpoints. 

Rubio says US will support the framework agreement  

Aoun on Sunday met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Washington will continue to endorse the Lebanese agreement and support its full implementation. Rubio described the meeting as “very positive” and warned that Lebanon will “never be fully at peace” as long as the Hezbollah issue is not resolved. 

“How do you replace Hezbollah? You defeat and replace them with a government that is strong enough to be the sole force of arms in the country,” Rubio said. 

Skeptics in Lebanon fear that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to a civil war. 

Government officials have urged investment in the country's battered infrastructure to empower the weakened state, which Rubio echoed. 

“This is not just about military stuff," he said. "This is about how can we attract more US and international investment into Lebanon.” 

Israel plans on a long-term presence  

Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said they plan to keep military forces long-term in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon. 

Hezbollah has dismissed the US-brokered direct talks and instead backed Washington’s talks with its key ally and patron Iran to end their war, which includes ending the war in Lebanon as a condition. 

Lebanon’s government came to power on a reformist platform in early 2025, vowing to disarm all non-state groups including Hezbollah. It blames Hezbollah for dragging the country into another war with Israel in March, when the group fired several rockets toward northern Israel two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. 

Beirut's leadership, however, has condemned Israel’s subsequent ground invasion and massive aerial campaign in the country, which has killed over 4,000 people and displaced 1.2 million others. 

While grappling with stark political opposition from Hezbollah and allies within the deeply divided country, Lebanon's leadership insists that Israeli withdrawal and international financial support for Lebanon’s cash-strapped army is crucial for a sustainable security solution. 

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Arab World

Al-Sharaa Backs Iraq's Efforts to Bring Weapons Under State Control, Build Strong Army

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Damascus on Wednesday (Government media)
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Al-Sharaa Backs Iraq's Efforts to Bring Weapons Under State Control, Build Strong Army

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Damascus on Wednesday (Government media)

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed support for the Iraqi prime minister's efforts to bring weapons under state control, saying the two countries have a historic opportunity to build strong states capable of protecting their interests and achieving development and prosperity.

Al-Sharaa made the remarks in an interview with Iraq's Dijlah TV, broadcast Tuesday evening, marking his first media appearance before an Iraqi audience since assuming the presidency in January 2025.

Observers noted that the interview was conducted by Dijlah TV, which is rumored to be owned by the Iraqi prime minister or one of his brothers, rather than the country's official television network.

Al-Sharaa stressed that the destinies of Iraq and Syria are interconnected historically, in the present and in the future. He called for bilateral relations to be governed by established principles that take into account social ties and shared interests, rather than shifting political attitudes.

He described Syria as a strategic gateway for Iraq to the Mediterranean Sea and a corridor connecting it to the West and extending toward the Arabian Gulf.

Despite objections from Iran-aligned political forces and armed factions in Iraq to rapprochement with Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2024, al-Sharaa praised the Iraqi government's position, describing it as positive.

He said the previous Iraqi government, headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, had adopted the right approach and that subsequent developments had helped correct the course advocated by certain political forces.

Bringing Weapons Under State Control

Al-Sharaa expressed support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's efforts to combat corruption and ensure that weapons remain exclusively under state control.

He described al-Zaidi as "serious" about pursuing these objectives and affirmed Syria's support for his efforts.

"Building a unified and strong army is a source of strength and protection for everyone," al-Sharaa said.

Addressing shared security concerns, al-Sharaa said the Iraqi government had understood Syria's messages from the outset, despite attempts to undermine its position.

He emphasized the high level of security coordination between the two countries, noting that their shared border was stable and secure, with continued communication to address any concerns or observations.

Regarding ISIS and other extremist groups, al-Sharaa said threats had gradually diminished compared with previous periods, although this did not mean the two countries could consider themselves entirely safe.

Economic Ties

On economic cooperation, al-Sharaa said Syria and Iraq had made considerable progress in recent months.

"The natural course for two neighboring countries such as Syria and Iraq is to build shared interests that will be difficult to unravel in the future, encompassing security, social and economic matters, so that these interests take precedence over shifting political attitudes or political changes," he said.

Regarding the oil pipeline project, al-Sharaa said several companies had visited Syria over the past year, bringing investment proposals worth hundreds of millions of dollars and exploring opportunities that could benefit both countries.

He stressed the need to rebuild oil pipelines to Baniyas, citing their importance to Iraq and the potential benefits they could bring to Syria.

In recent months, Iraqi authorities have continued efforts to diversify the country's oil export routes, particularly through Syrian territory and the port of Baniyas.

Iraq had previously relied heavily on Gulf waters and the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure inflicted severe damage on the Iraqi economy and oil sector.

Social Relations

Al-Sharaa emphasized Syria's strong willingness to deepen social ties with Iraq and facilitate travel and the movement of people between the two countries.

He stressed that Syrian-Iraqi relations are not based on sectarian or ethnic considerations but on shared history, economic interests and the deep ties between their peoples.

Entry into Iraq

The interview also addressed al-Sharaa's entry into Iraq approximately one week to 10 days before the arrival of US forces in 2003.

He said he had traveled there on his own initiative, motivated by what he described as a sense of responsibility toward the Iraqi people.

Al-Sharaa explained that he was imprisoned in Iraq in 2005 and remained in detention until 2011, when he returned to Syria at the beginning of the Syrian uprising.

He maintained that he had not participated in the fighting that took place in Iraq during those years.

 

Arab World

Lebanese Remain on Alert for Another War

Children play in front of tents at a temporary displacement shelter at the Sports City complex in Beirut (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Children play in front of tents at a temporary displacement shelter at the Sports City complex in Beirut (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Lebanese Remain on Alert for Another War

Children play in front of tents at a temporary displacement shelter at the Sports City complex in Beirut (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Children play in front of tents at a temporary displacement shelter at the Sports City complex in Beirut (Asharq Al-Awsat)

"Fear is no longer a passing feeling. It has become part of everyday life, as repeated wars have created a constant state of apprehension and readiness for any sudden escalation."

With these words, Maryam Merhi sums up the reality facing many Lebanese, particularly those in the south, amid reports of a possible return to war.

"Every escalation takes us back into the same cycle of anxiety and uncertainty," she told Asharq Al-Awsat, explaining that her emergency bag remains packed and that one question constantly weighs on her mind: "If something happens, what will we do? Where will we go?"

She said the hardest part of life in Lebanon today is losing the sense of safety within one's own home.

"All I wish for is to return to a normal life, to plan for tomorrow instead of planning an escape, and to feel that our homes are safe places rather than somewhere we fear being forced to leave at any moment. All we hope for is simply a normal life."

Merhi is among thousands of Lebanese for whom any security alert or potential threat triggers what has become known as "Plan B": preparing to flee.

Such preparations are no longer confined to areas that have experienced military escalation. They have spread across much of Lebanon, where people increasingly treat any security development as an early warning.

Emergency bags, evacuation plans and the search for safer places have become part of everyday life as residents brace for another possible escalation.

From Breaking News to Escape Plans

Marwa Jaber said even reports suggesting that hostilities might resume are enough to revive the fear Lebanese experienced during the war, with anxiety often taking hold before the information can be verified.

She recalled how, whenever such news circulates, people immediately begin asking: "Will the war start again?"

Some employees even leave work in anticipation of the worst, only to discover later that the reports were inaccurate.

"I realized that we were thinking about only one thing: how to prepare for war again. We are still living with the effects of war, even when we are far from the fighting," she said.

Farah Samaha described a similar experience, explaining that any security development, even beyond Lebanon's borders, immediately brings back memories of displacement.

"Our thoughts immediately turn to how to protect our families, where we will flee and what we need to prepare," she said.

Samaha believes Lebanese have grown accustomed to keeping a contingency plan for war while people elsewhere make plans for their futures.

"Living with fear has become part of everyday life," she said.

War Does Not End With a Ceasefire

The consequences of war extend beyond destruction and loss of life, shaping how people think and navigate their daily routines.

The experiences described by these women reflect what psychotherapist Dr. Rima Haddad identifies as a lasting psychological consequence of repeated wars in Lebanon.

She said successive conflicts have not only left deep scars on people's memories but have also created a persistent state of psychological hypervigilance, leaving many Lebanese living as though they are waiting for the next war.

"Repeated wars in Lebanon have left profound psychological effects on the population," Haddad told Asharq Al-Awsat.

"Many Lebanese remain in a constant state of alert, even during periods of calm, because of accumulated trauma and the persistent fear that hostilities will resume."

Constant Psychological Hypervigilance

Haddad explained that communities exposed to repeated wars can develop a persistent state of psychological hypervigilance.

"The brain operates as though it is constantly on alert, monitoring every new sound or event and continuously checking whether danger is approaching," she said.

"This affects people's ability to concentrate, work and plan for the future. Many lose their sense of hope even after the fighting stops, while fear, tension and anxiety remain part of their daily lives."

She warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions can lead to chronic stress.

"Successive wars have pushed a large segment of the Lebanese population into a state of chronic anxiety. They remain constantly watchful for new developments, tense, easily irritated and deprived of a sense of stability," she said.

Haddad emphasized that the effects extend well beyond emotional distress.

"This condition affects productivity, the ability to work, decision-making and long-term planning. It also has negative consequences for physical and mental health, as well as social relationships."

Persistent Threats and Chronic Anxiety

According to Haddad, the enduring sense of insecurity stems from two interconnected factors.

The first is "the constant threat under which Lebanese people live," while the second is "the chronic anxiety generated by repeated trauma."

She warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions "weakens people's ability to develop plans for the future and make decisions because they become more preoccupied with anticipating danger than building their lives."

To help mitigate these psychological effects, Haddad recommended limiting continuous exposure to news as much as possible, avoiding sources of negativity, engaging in regular physical activity and setting small, achievable short-term goals to gradually restore a sense of control and stability.

She also stressed the importance of expressing emotions rather than suppressing them.

"Speaking with a mental health professional or trusted family members and friends can help ease fear and anxiety and prevent them from building up," she said.

Arab World

Houthis Step Up Pressure on Front Lines by Shelling Residential Areas

Residents walk amid debris from their homes after a missile strike in Seina, Taiz, Yemen, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Marzouq Al Jabri)
Residents walk amid debris from their homes after a missile strike in Seina, Taiz, Yemen, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Marzouq Al Jabri)
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Houthis Step Up Pressure on Front Lines by Shelling Residential Areas

Residents walk amid debris from their homes after a missile strike in Seina, Taiz, Yemen, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Marzouq Al Jabri)
Residents walk amid debris from their homes after a missile strike in Seina, Taiz, Yemen, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Marzouq Al Jabri)

The humanitarian consequences of the Houthi escalation in Yemen have intensified as the group steps up attacks on residential areas in rural Lahj Governorate and around the city of Taiz, according to government sources. Growing numbers of families are fleeing the fighting, while relief organizations struggle to meet mounting needs in a country already facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis had intensified near-daily missile and drone attacks on villages in Lahj's Al-Mudarabah district after failing to make advances on the battlefield.

The attacks have forced hundreds of families to flee, adding to waves of displacement from the western coast and the outskirts of Lahj.

The sources said they believed the attacks were intended to pressure local tribesmen into withdrawing their support for government forces.

Around Taiz, the sources reported that the Houthis had targeted villages on Mount Sabr with drones and mortar shells in an attempt to weaken resistance from government troops and local volunteers, who have repelled repeated attempts by the group to breach the front lines in recent days.

The developments come as Taiz has been under siege for 20 days, according to the sources. The fighting has made it increasingly difficult for civilians to access essential services and supplies, placing additional strain on local authorities and humanitarian organizations.

Humanitarian Warnings

Amid the humanitarian consequences of the Houthi attacks, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned that the latest escalation had deepened Yemen's prolonged humanitarian crisis.

The IFRC said 22.3 million people across Yemen require humanitarian assistance, including approximately 5.2 million who had already been internally displaced before the latest escalation.

In a recent report, the federation said fighting and insecurity had disrupted access to healthcare, education, markets and essential supplies.

Displaced families are arriving in host communities with few belongings and urgently need shelter, household essentials, food, clean water and healthcare.

The report noted that host communities are also facing severe pressure on services and resources, while repeated displacement is eroding livelihoods, increasing protection risks and raising the likelihood that more families will be forced to leave their homes.

The IFRC stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian access and ensuring a flexible response that can adapt to changing needs on the ground, particularly in areas where insecurity restricts the movement of people and supplies.

According to the report, displaced households face overlapping barriers to obtaining shelter, food, clean water, sanitation, education and healthcare.

Insecurity and road closures have disrupted markets, supply routes and aid deliveries, while lost income, depleted assets and rising prices have further reduced families' ability to purchase basic necessities.

The federation warned that isolated communities face even greater restrictions, as maintaining commercial supplies and essential services becomes increasingly difficult.

Food insecurity is further exacerbating the vulnerability of households already struggling with inadequate access to food.

Highlighting the scale of the crisis, the report said approximately 2.2 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition across Yemen.

It warned that continued sieges and interruptions to humanitarian assistance could further worsen conditions, particularly for young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The report added that repeated displacement is exhausting families' ability to cope with successive crises.

A rapid assessment conducted at three displacement sites found that approximately 45% of the households surveyed had previously experienced displacement.

The IFRC emphasized that this figure reflected only the households assessed at those three sites and should not be generalized to Yemen's entire displaced population.

Additional Risks

The IFRC also warned that the loss of property and unstable livelihoods are undermining families' resilience and increasing the risk that they will resort to harmful coping strategies, including child labor.

The federation noted that the humanitarian toll extends beyond shortages of food and shelter to additional challenges facing female-headed households, children separated from their families, older people, persons with disabilities and patients requiring regular medical treatment.

Women and girls face heightened protection risks in areas lacking adequate shelter and sanitation facilities.

Meanwhile, people with limited mobility or financial resources may be unable to leave isolated areas or reach essential services.

The warnings highlight the widening gap between humanitarian needs and the capacity to meet them as fighting continues, families are repeatedly displaced, and roads and supply routes remain disrupted.

Together, these pressures are leaving vulnerable households increasingly exposed to hardship and placing additional burdens on communities receiving displaced families.