It is a country that has been treated very badly and we have to start treating it better and with respect, Donald Trump said of Lebanon during his meeting with President Aoun and promised aid to the war-torn country.
According to Trump, the two would discuss “concrete plans” to help Lebanon deal with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Trump also said that the Israeli army is in the process of withdrawing from Lebanon.
"I'm going to talk to Hezbollah, I'm talking to everybody," Trump said, according to CNN.
A few hours after the meeting, he said he had ordered US authorities to allow the country's airlines to fly to Beirut so that "Americans can easily visit the beautiful country."
Direct flights between the United States and Lebanon were halted in 1985, following the hijacking of a plane.
Aoun thanked Trump for his “historic” achievement in reaching a trilateral agreement between Israel, Lebanon and the United States.
He added that the speaker of parliament, Hezbollah-affiliated Nabih Berri, is positive and wants to see an end to the war.
Lebanon hopes that the visit can contribute to the Israeli army withdrawing from southern Lebanon - and that the Lebanese military receives support in taking over areas controlled by Hezbollah.
