- Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon more than 40 years after the US suspended the route.
- Direct flights between the US and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by Ronald Reagan’s administration following the hijacking of TWA flight 847.
- During the meeting with Aoun, Trump pledged to help Lebanon “a lot.”
- Trump stated that Israel's army is in the process of redeploying from Lebanon, but did not provide a timeline for their withdrawal.
- Israel has been occupying southern Lebanon since March 2026, and the occupation continues to this day.
- Aoun's visit to the White House was the first by a Lebanese president since 2009.
- Trump's remarks indicated a desire to help Lebanon, stating it had been “badly treated” for decades.
In a significant diplomatic move, President Donald Trump hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, marking the first visit by a Lebanese leader since 2009. Trump announced the resumption of direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon, suspended since 1985, stating, I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land. 12
During their meeting, Trump expressed a commitment to assist Lebanon, saying, We re gonna help it a lot, although he did not provide specific details on the support. Aoun, in turn, praised Trump’s vision for peace, calling it his legacy.
The discussions also touched on the ongoing Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Trump remarked on Israel's military withdrawal, stating, They re in the process of doing that. They re in the process of redeploying. However, reports indicate that Israel has not yet pulled back from any occupied areas since March.
The U.S. State Department recently announced a pilot zone initiative aimed at facilitating the Lebanese army's deployment in previously occupied towns, although the areas identified were not under Israeli control. Trump also suggested that Syria should intervene to disarm Hezbollah, a proposal rejected by Syrian authorities. The announcement of direct flights is expected to benefit the many Lebanese Americans visiting their homeland annually.
“Trump said he would speak directly with Hezbollah, telling reporters "I speak to everybody," as Aoun's White House visit marked the first by a Lebanese president since 2009. The flight authorization reverses a 41-year ban imposed after the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847, a move welcomed by the Lebanese-American community.”
The Guardian
