Lebanese president calls for continued US support following framework agreement

On July 4, 2026, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the United States to continue its support for Lebanon following a framework agreement reached on June 26. This agreement, brokered by the U.S., aims to establish lasting peace and requires the Lebanese military to restore authority in the country's south. The plan is contingent upon the disarmament of Hezbollah, beginning with pilot zones where the Israeli military is scheduled to withdraw. President Aoun expressed these sentiments in a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese people on the social media platform X. Conversely, Hezbollah has openly challenged the framework agreement. The current tensions stem from a conflict that began on March 2, when Hezbollah attacked Israel, citing retaliation for the February 28 death of Iran's supreme leader in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike. Israel responded with a significant bombing campaign and a ground operation in southern Lebanon.