Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, as pressure builds for Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, Israel's key condition before withdrawing from south Lebanon.
It comes a day after the United States, which has sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, announced the start of the implementation of an agreement granting the Lebanese army control over "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon.
These zones are primarily located just outside lands Israel occupied after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March.
Aoun, who has staunchly criticised Hezbollah's decision to pull Lebanon into war, is now hoping Trump will further pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied Lebanese lands.
Israel has nonetheless consistently refused to pull out as long as Hezbollah remains armed -- a demand echoed by Washington.
