U.S. Secretary of State Meets Lebanese President to Discuss Implementation of Israel-Lebanon Peace Agreement

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on July 19 (local time) to discuss the implementation status of the peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which was previously brokered by the United States.

The U.S. Department of State announced this in a statement issued by spokesperson Tommy Pigott on the same day.

The State Department stated, "Secretary Rubio commended the Lebanese government under President Aoun's leadership for its firm commitment to restoring Lebanon's sovereignty, pursuing the disarmament of Hezbollah, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, and moving toward peace."

It further added, "Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the trilateral agreement and backing the Lebanese government's efforts to realize peace, economic recovery, and a better future for the Lebanese people."

After Israel and the United States launched military operations against Iran on February 28, the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel, and Israel responded with airstrikes targeting Hezbollah within Lebanon, leading to continued armed conflict between the two sides.

Although the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ending the war, signed between the United States and Iran, included provisions to cease military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah persisted for some time, emerging as a destabilizing factor for the ceasefire.

In response, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework peace agreement on June 26, mediated by the United States, to end the armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

This agreement was concluded in the form of a trilateral pact that also included the United States.

While the U.S.-Iran war-ending MOU was effectively neutralized following the resumption of military clashes between the two sides, the United States continues to support the implementation of the peace agreement to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah from escalating on the Lebanese front.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.