President Donald Trump announced the end of a decades-long ban on direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon, following a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Trump disclosed the decision on Truth Social after the meeting, stating: "After meeting with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, who has done a remarkable job working to transform his Country, I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land."
The President praised Aoun's reform efforts and called on other nations to restore direct air service to Lebanon as well.
Direct flights between the two countries have been suspended since 1985, when the U.S. Halted commercial service following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 and due to security concerns during Lebanon's civil war.
The announcement came after discussions between Trump and Aoun on expanding bilateral cooperation, sustaining American backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces, and implementing a recently negotiated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel that was brokered in Washington. That agreement, however, is contingent on the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist organization that has rejected both the framework agreement and the broader peace negotiations.