President Joseph Aoun Seeks Turkish Support for Lebanon-Israel Deal

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited Ankara on July 30, 2026, to seek diplomatic, military, and economic assistance from Türkiye. This marked Aoun's first official visit to the country since taking office in January 2025. The primary focus of the talks was the implementation of a US-mediated framework agreement signed with Israel on June 26, which mandates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of groups including Hezbollah.

Aoun requested that Türkiye provide political support to ensure the deal's success and prevent incomplete implementation. He also proposed expanding Turkish military training and equipment for the Lebanese army and discussed the possibility of Türkiye joining an international force to replace UNIFIL. Regarding internal security, Aoun asserted that the decision to place arms solely under state control is an exclusively Lebanese sovereign matter, explicitly rejecting external mediation from Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Lebanese state institutions and pledged assistance for the reconstruction of southern Lebanon. Aoun further urged Turkish companies to invest in Lebanon's productive sectors to aid the country's economic recovery. These diplomatic efforts occur as a fragile ceasefire persists, with Israel and Lebanon remaining in disagreement over security guarantees and the specific timing of military withdrawals along the border.