Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to provide ongoing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), warning that a weakened military could lead to chaos similar to the civil war that followed the army's collapse in 1975.
During a meeting at the White House on July 21, Aoun discussed military support for Lebanon, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah.
Aoun stated, "We must support the Lebanese army. Without the Lebanese army, everything will collapse." He referenced the historical precedent of militias proliferating and leading to civil war after the army's disintegration, emphasizing, "We do not want that to happen again."
According to a basic agreement reached on June 26 with U.S. mediation, Israeli forces are to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army to take control of the area. The Lebanese army is also tasked with disarming armed groups, including Hezbollah, and restoring state authority.
The implementation of the agreement has already begun, with Israeli troops withdrawing from the Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh area in southern Lebanon, followed by the deployment of Lebanese forces. The Lebanese army plans to remove Hezbollah's weapons and military facilities in this demonstration zone.
However, Hezbollah has opposed disarmament, and Israel has expressed doubts about the Lebanese army's ability to effectively disarm the group, raising concerns about potential clashes during the implementation process.
Aoun reiterated the ultimate goal of permanently ending hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, while requesting U.S. support.
Trump responded, stating, "We will help Lebanon," and added that Aoun could engage in direct talks with Hezbollah if he wished.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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