The official visit of Lebanese President Aoun to Washington, alongside the completion of the first pilot of transferring territory from the IDF to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), constitutes the first small steps on the path to implementing the framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon (June 26). In his meeting with President Trump (July 21) - the first between the presidents of the two countries since 2009 - President Aoun presented his commitment to this agreement: he declared that the ultimate goal of the agreement is to end the state of war between Israel and Lebanon, and presented an action plan requiring a complete IDF withdrawal in exchange for the full disarmament of Hezbollah and assistance to the LAF so that it can meet the difficult tasks before it. Trump, for his part, emphasized the US commitment to Lebanon and its willingness to assist, and even announced a symbolic move of renewing direct flights from the US to Lebanon.
The visit to Washington received extensive coverage in the Lebanese media and social networks, where a fundamental narrative gap was evident between Hezbollah's supporters and its opponents. Aoun's supporters emphasized its historical nature and the achievements of the President, who solidified Lebanon's standing vis-à-vis the US and stood up for its interests: a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, the consolidation of its sovereignty, and securing American support for it. Conversely, Hezbollah elements poured harsh criticism on the visit itself, following the organization's fierce and piercing opposition to the direct negotiations with Israel and to the agreement, which they define as an act of treason and an expression of the humiliation of the Lebanese leadership submitting to US and Israeli dictates.
However, at present it appears that beyond the blunt public attacks, Hezbollah is refraining from steps that could lead to a violent confrontation with the Lebanese security forces. This is also true of its reaction to the linkage of the Israeli withdrawal to the agreement and to the direct contacts with Israel. The organization did not take any action to prevent the advancement (July 21) of the first pilot of the LAF's entry into three villages in southern Lebanon, one of which – Zawtar El Gharbiyeh – from which the IDF withdrew, settling solely for harsh public criticism. All this stands against the Lebanese government's efforts to highlight the achievement from its perspective, as reflected in the visit (July 22) of the Lebanese Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to Zawtar El Gharbiyeh, including the planting of the Lebanese flag in the village and a promise to the residents that they are the ones who will provide for all their needs. At the same time, Hezbollah continues its relentless efforts beneath the surface to conceal its weapons and operatives, and to rebuild itself in areas where the IDF is not present.
In conclusion, the American backing for Aoun during his visit to Washington, the support for him from broad segments of the Lebanese public, and the implementation of the first pilot on the ground, strengthen the determination of the Lebanese leadership to continue implementing the agreement with Israel. But it still faces formidable tests given Hezbollah's opposition: the need to prove that the LAF indeed meets the requirement to prevent Hezbollah's return to the territories that have already been transferred and those that will subsequently be transferred to its hands, while it still avoids violent confrontations with Hezbollah, which is unwilling to relinquish its grip and presence in southern Lebanon. This is in addition to the slow pace that Israel is expected to dictate for its withdrawal from the territories in its hands, if at all, given what it perceives as unsatisfactory performance on the part of the LAF.
The official visit of Lebanese President Aoun to Washington, alongside the completion of the first pilot of transferring territory from the IDF to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), constitutes the first small steps on the path to implementing the framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon (June 26). In his meeting with President Trump (July 21) - the first between the presidents of the two countries since 2009 - President Aoun presented his commitment to this agreement: he declared that the ultimate goal of the agreement is to end the state of war between Israel and Lebanon, and presented an action plan requiring a complete IDF withdrawal in exchange for the full disarmament of Hezbollah and assistance to the LAF so that it can meet the difficult tasks before it. Trump, for his part, emphasized the US commitment to Lebanon and its willingness to assist, and even announced a symbolic move of renewing direct flights from the US to Lebanon.
The visit to Washington received extensive coverage in the Lebanese media and social networks, where a fundamental narrative gap was evident between Hezbollah's supporters and its opponents. Aoun's supporters emphasized its historical nature and the achievements of the President, who solidified Lebanon's standing vis-à-vis the US and stood up for its interests: a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, the consolidation of its sovereignty, and securing American support for it. Conversely, Hezbollah elements poured harsh criticism on the visit itself, following the organization's fierce and piercing opposition to the direct negotiations with Israel and to the agreement, which they define as an act of treason and an expression of the humiliation of the Lebanese leadership submitting to US and Israeli dictates.
However, at present it appears that beyond the blunt public attacks, Hezbollah is refraining from steps that could lead to a violent confrontation with the Lebanese security forces. This is also true of its reaction to the linkage of the Israeli withdrawal to the agreement and to the direct contacts with Israel. The organization did not take any action to prevent the advancement (July 21) of the first pilot of the LAF's entry into three villages in southern Lebanon, one of which – Zawtar El Gharbiyeh – from which the IDF withdrew, settling solely for harsh public criticism. All this stands against the Lebanese government's efforts to highlight the achievement from its perspective, as reflected in the visit (July 22) of the Lebanese Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to Zawtar El Gharbiyeh, including the planting of the Lebanese flag in the village and a promise to the residents that they are the ones who will provide for all their needs. At the same time, Hezbollah continues its relentless efforts beneath the surface to conceal its weapons and operatives, and to rebuild itself in areas where the IDF is not present.
In conclusion, the American backing for Aoun during his visit to Washington, the support for him from broad segments of the Lebanese public, and the implementation of the first pilot on the ground, strengthen the determination of the Lebanese leadership to continue implementing the agreement with Israel. But it still faces formidable tests given Hezbollah's opposition: the need to prove that the LAF indeed meets the requirement to prevent Hezbollah's return to the territories that have already been transferred and those that will subsequently be transferred to its hands, while it still avoids violent confrontations with Hezbollah, which is unwilling to relinquish its grip and presence in southern Lebanon. This is in addition to the slow pace that Israel is expected to dictate for its withdrawal from the territories in its hands, if at all, given what it perceives as unsatisfactory performance on the part of the LAF.