Naim Berjawi / Anadolu

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Sunday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the start of his official meetings in Washington, where he arrived on Saturday.

The meeting took place at the US State Department building, according to Anadolu's correspondent.

On Saturday evening, Aoun arrived in Washington for a four-day official visit, during which he will meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House.

Aoun is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with members of the Senate (the second chamber of Congress) and US administration officials, according to a previous statement from the Lebanese presidency.

Aoun and his wife Nehmat Aoun arrived Saturday at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, at the start of an official visit at the invitation of Trump, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

The Lebanese presidency said in a statement on Saturday that Aoun will discuss with US officials the situation in Lebanon, ways to consolidate the ceasefire and restore security and stability to the country, in addition to the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Lebanese areas it occupies, and the extension of state authority over all regions.

On July 8, Aoun said, according to a presidency statement at the time, that his visit to Washington reflects the unprecedented US interest in Lebanon, and its support for reaching a permanent solution to the series of Israeli wars and attacks on Lebanon, and achieving stability in the Middle East.

The visit comes amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Lebanon, despite the 'framework formula' signed by Beirut and Tel Aviv under American sponsorship on June 26, 2026, which stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories, starting with the implementation of a model in two unspecified pilot areas.

The formula did not include a timeline for withdrawal, and linked its completion to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, along with the disarmament of armed groups, in reference to Hezbollah.

Since March 2, 2026, Israel has continued its aggression on Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 4,328 people and injuries to 12,227 others, as well as the displacement of more than one million people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, and others since the previous war between October 2023 and November 2024.