🇱🇧 Aoun and Rubio discussed state authority, militia disarmament and the Trilateral Framework.
Their Washington meeting lasted more than an hour. Rubio praised Aoun’s government for working to reclaim state authority and said the United States remained committed to supporting implementation of the framework.
U.S. sources cited by Al Jadeed said aides agreed to extend state authority and pursue American investment in Lebanon’s energy, telecommunications and transportation sectors.
Discussions included phased implementation and territorial withdrawal under the U.S.-Lebanese-Israeli framework, “separating Lebanon's path from that of Islamabad,” and sovereign cooperation with Syria.
U.S. assistance reportedly remains contingent on militia disarmament and Lebanese Army deployment. Washington is also proposing an international force of American and European troops to support those objectives and eventually facilitate peace with Israel.
Aoun is scheduled to meet think-tank directors and business, political and diplomatic figures on Monday, followed Tuesday by meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Defense and President Trump concerning direct negotiations.
🗺️ Southern Lebanon’s pilot zones began under joint military coordination.
IDF, CENTCOM and Lebanese Armed Forces teams began implementing the “Safe Zone” pilot in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya under the Trilateral Framework and the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.
Froun and Srifa form the first zone outside the IDF buffer area. No Israeli withdrawal was required, and Lebanese forces had already deployed in Froun on Friday.
The second zone covers Zawtar al-Gharbiya and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah inside the buffer area, requiring the IDF to withdraw and redeploy before Lebanese forces enter.
The timing remains unresolved, although a diplomatic source cited by MTV said a withdrawal from the outskirts of Zawtar al-Gharbiya could occur within hours.
The U.S. State Department said implementation followed talks held in Rome and pledged continued coordination with both sides. The zones are intended as the first stage of a new southern Lebanon security arrangement, strengthening regional stability and testing the Lebanese Army’s ability to exercise sovereignty.
The final framework remains undecided. Hezbollah violations are to be addressed through a U.S.-led coordination cell, while the IDF warned it would respond forcefully to breaches.
🕳️ About 40 Hezbollah operatives were reportedly trapped in the Ali Taher underground complex.
N12 cited Israeli security sources saying IDF forces were blocking the tunnel openings at what is currently considered Lebanon’s main friction point. Supplies could run out within days, prompting preparations for a possible surprise breakout.
The complex reportedly extends for more than one kilometer and includes bunkers, command-and-control facilities, weapons depots and rocket-launch infrastructure.
Previous airstrikes failed to destroy it because it is dug deep underground, and the IDF continues to monitor the site.
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