Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met today at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump. This is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to Washington in nearly 20 years.

During the meeting, Aoun thanked Trump for his “historic” achievement in mediating the conclusion of a trilateral agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. According to him, the “ultimate goal” of this document is “to put an end once and for all to the hostility between Lebanon and Israel.”

Under the terms of the deal, Israel will withdraw its troops from two areas in southern Lebanon, transferring these territories to the control of the Lebanese army.

Aoun noted that Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri “supports our actions.” Berri leads the Shiite Amal party, which is allied with Hezbollah.

“This framework agreement does not require ratification by parliament — it is the exclusive prerogative of the president,” Aoun said. “Berri wants to see the war end and supports ending the state of hostility once and for all.”

Trump, for his part, said that he would discuss with the Lebanese president “specific plans” for providing American assistance in pushing Hezbollah back.

“Today we will talk about this with your president. We already have very specific plans in this regard, including bringing in outside assistance. But they [the Lebanese forces] are also becoming increasingly self-reliant, and we will discuss that as well,” Trump noted.

The U.S. president also added that the Israel Defense Forces are “in the process” of withdrawing troops from Lebanon.

“They signed an excellent agreement with Lebanon,” Trump emphasized, clarifying that the Israeli forces are carrying out a “redeployment.”

In addition, Trump expressed readiness to enter into direct contacts with Hezbollah.

“I am ready to talk to Hezbollah. I talk to everyone,” he said, adding that he would take this step if President Aoun asked him to.