(MENAFN) US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Monday.

According to the Lebanese Presidency’s announcement on the US social media platform X, US Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus was also present at the meeting, accompanied by a delegation at the Baabda Palace located east of the Lebanese capital.

No additional information about the discussions has been disclosed by the presidency. Barrack, who simultaneously holds the position of US Ambassador to Türkiye, arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening.

This visit marks his fourth trip to Lebanon since June.

Barrack’s current visit occurs just 10 days after Lebanon’s Cabinet approved the goals of a plan he suggested. The initiative was met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, which refused to relinquish its armaments.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into a full-blown war in September 2024, following cross-border clashes that began in October 2023.

The fighting resulted in approximately 4,000 casualties, including Hezbollah’s leader Hasan Nasrallah, with around 17,000 others wounded.

A ceasefire was agreed upon in November, but Israeli forces have continued near-daily assaults in southern Lebanon, targeting what they describe as Hezbollah operations.

According to the ceasefire terms, Israel was expected to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by January 26.

However, this deadline was postponed to February 18 after Tel Aviv declined to comply, and Israel still retains a military presence at five border outposts.

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