Lebanese President urges US to halt Israeli operations ahead of Washington talks
President Joseph Aoun urges US to pressure Israel as Lebanon prepares for direct talks in Washington later this week.
Assessment
Lebanon's new president is testing whether Washington will treat Beirut as a credible diplomatic actor or simply defer to Israeli security demands. The request for a halt to Israeli operations frames the upcoming talks as a test of American leverage, not just bilateral negotiation. If the US declines to apply pressure, Aoun's domestic standing and the ceasefire's durability both weaken.