India, July 19 -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has departed for Washington for the first face-to-face meeting between a Lebanese head of state and a sitting US president since 2009. During his Washington visit, Aoun aims to use the encounter to press Trump into pushing Israel toward a long-delayed troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

"Aoun left for Washington on Saturday ahead of a White House meeting with US President Trump scheduled for July 21," a statement from the Lebanese presidency read, as Washington-led efforts to stabilise the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed proxy Hezbollah enter what officials describe as a decisive new phase.

Aoun is travelling at Trump's personal invitation and is expected to meet the ...