Rubio backs Lebanon’s 'move towards peace' in summit with Aoun

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on Sunday, marking the first visit by a Lebanese head of state since 2009. Rubio commended Lebanon's "move towards peace" following recent US-brokered diplomatic discussions with Israel, aimed at a permanent peace agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war. These talks, initiated in April, led to a foundational framework on June 26 outlining an Israeli military withdrawal from southern areas and Lebanese army deployment, conditional on Hezbollah's disarmament. American officials reported that Israel and Lebanon agreed on guidelines to operationalize two buffer zones after a follow-up round of negotiations last week. Rubio affirmed Washington's dedication "to supporting the successful implementation of the Trilateral Framework and to backing the Government of Lebanon's efforts to deliver peace, economic recovery, and a better future for the Lebanese people." Aoun, however, has consistently rejected a direct meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating, "If we were to find ourselves in the same room, I would immediately leave."