Trump, Lebanese president discuss Hezbollah disarmament

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House and said the two leaders would discuss privately whether the United States would assist Lebanon in disarming Hezbollah. Trump also said he would be willing to speak directly with Hezbollah if requested by Aoun.

The meeting came as Lebanon seeks to extend state authority across the country under a U.S.-brokered framework reached with Israel in June. The arrangement aims to facilitate the deployment of Lebanese troops to areas vacated by Israeli forces and advance efforts to reduce tensions along the border.

Aoun said the "ultimate objective" of the U.S.-brokered framework is to end "the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever." The visit marked the first by a Lebanese head of state to the White House since 2009.