US President Donald Trump has announced the return of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States, marking a potential milestone in bilateral relations after more than 40 years without regular direct air connections.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington, where the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries, including aviation links, security support, and regional stability.
President Aoun’s visit marked the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese president since 2009. During the meetings, discussions focused on US military assistance to Lebanon, the implementation of the Washington framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, and developments concerning security in southern Lebanon.
Trump said the United States had clear plans to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), highlighting Washington’s commitment to helping Lebanon address ongoing challenges. He added that discussions included the initial phase of the framework agreement in southern Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese forces to areas expected to be affected by an Israeli withdrawal.
President Aoun called for continued US support for the Lebanese army, describing the force as a key pillar of stability in Lebanon. He also requested ongoing political backing from Washington and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the Washington framework agreement with Israel.
Aoun said the long-term objective of the agreement is to permanently end hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, while supporting greater security and stability across the region.
The resumption of direct flights, alongside renewed diplomatic and security cooperation, signals a possible new phase in US-Lebanon relations and could contribute to stronger economic and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
