Brussels: Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun departed from Beirut on Saturday for Washington, DC, where he is scheduled to engage in discussions with US President Donald Trump. The Lebanese Presidency confirmed the visit, highlighting its significance in addressing critical regional issues.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Aoun's agenda includes talks with several US officials focusing on the current situation in Lebanon and strategies to reinforce the ceasefire with Israel. The discussions aim to "secure Israel's withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it occupies and extend the authority of the Lebanese state throughout the country," as stated by Lebanese officials in a social media post.

This visit follows the sixth round of US-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which concluded on Wednesday in Rome. In a significant development, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-mediated framework agreement on June 26, outlining a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories. The initial phase involves a pilot model in two yet-to-be-identified zones.

The framework agreement, however, does not specify a withdrawal timetable. It stipulates that the completion of the withdrawal process is contingent upon the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibilities in the evacuated areas and the disarmament of armed groups, notably the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Official Lebanese figures indicate that Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in over 4,300 deaths and 12,200 injuries since March 2, underscoring the urgency of these diplomatic efforts.