On the left, US President Donald Trump during a speech in Washington (Archive photo: AFP). On the right, his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, during a meeting in Baabda (Presidency photo).
Ahead of his departure for the United States on Saturday for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for Tuesday, the first between an American president and a Lebanese head of state since 2009, President Joseph Aoun received from the U.S. Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, the clear message that under no circumstances should he cancel the visit, regardless of the reason.The message had nothing to do with the possibility of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Aoun had already settled that issue by refusing any talks with the Israeli prime minister. Instead, Washington wanted to ensure that the visit would proceed as planned despite the renewed fighting across the region and the widening conflict.U.S. officials remain determined to separate the Lebanese file from the Iranian one. They have even told Lebanese...
Ahead of his departure for the United States on Saturday for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for Tuesday, the first between an American president and a Lebanese head of state since 2009, President Joseph Aoun received from the U.S. Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, the clear message that under no circumstances should he cancel the visit, regardless of the reason.The message had nothing to do with the possibility of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Aoun had already settled that issue by refusing any talks with the Israeli prime minister. Instead, Washington wanted to ensure that the visit would proceed as planned despite the renewed fighting across the region and the widening conflict.U.S. officials remain determined to separate the Lebanese file from the Iranian one. They have even told Lebanese...
In infographics: How 4 months of Israeli attacks and war devastated Lebanon
