Lebanon–United States relations

Establishment of relations

The United States sent diplomat George Wadsworth to Lebanon in October 1942 as an "Agent and Consul General" while Lebanon was still part of a French-ruled international mandate. The United States recognized Lebanon as an independent country on September 8, 1944. Formal relations were established on November 16, 1944, as Wadsworth presented his credentials as Envoy.^[1] The first ambassador of the United States was Harold B. Minor who was appointed to the post in October 1952.^[2]

Presidential and high-level visits

In September 1960, Lebanese Prime Minister Saeb Salam met with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in New York City while attending the United Nations General Assembly. The talks focused on international issues, including the situation in Algeria, and bilateral relations between Lebanon and the United States.^[3][4]

On 19 October 1982, President Amin Gemayel visited the White House and met with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, becoming the first Lebanese president to visit the White House. The leaders discussed Lebanon's security, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and U.S. support for Lebanon's sovereignty.^[4][5] On 24 April 1996, President Elias Hrawi visited the White House and met with U.S. President Bill Clinton during Operation Grapes of Wrath. The two leaders discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict, and U.S. support for Lebanon's sovereignty and the implementation of UNSCR 425.^[6]

On 25 September 2008, President Michel Suleiman visited the White House and met with U.S. President George W. Bush in the Oval Office, where they discussed U.S. support for Lebanon's sovereignty, democracy, and security institutions, including the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces.^[7] On 14 December 2009, Suleiman returned to the White House and met with U.S. President Barack Obama, with discussions focusing on UNSCR 1701, regional stability, and continued U.S. assistance to Lebanon.^[8]

In June 2014, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Lebanon and met with Future Movement leader Saad Hariri amid a presidential vacuum following the end of President Michel Suleiman's term. Their discussions focused on the election of a new Lebanese president, the impact of the Syrian civil war on Lebanon, and continued U.S. support for Lebanon's security and democratic institutions.^[9] On 25 July 2017, Prime Minister Saad Hariri visited the White House and met with U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders discussed Lebanon's security, U.S. support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and Hezbollah, the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis, and bilateral economic cooperation.^[10]

On July 21, 2026, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited the White House and met with U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders discussed implementation of the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire, the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and continued U.S. support for Lebanon's security and economic recovery.^[11] Afterward, U.S. president Trump authorized U.S. airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon, ending a suspension imposed after the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847.^[12]

Security incidents during the Lebanese civil war

On 18 April 1983, a suicide bomber attacked the United States Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans.^[13] Later that year, on October 23, a separate suicide attack targeted the headquarters of the U.S. contingent of the Multinational Force in Lebanon in Beirut, destroying the Marine barracks and killing 241 American servicemen. The attack, attributed by the United States to Hezbollah with Iranian support, was one of the deadliest attacks against U.S. forces since World War II and contributed to the withdrawal of American troops from Lebanon in early 1984.^[13]

Military and security cooperation

The United States seeks to maintain its traditionally close ties with Lebanon, and to help preserve its independence, sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity. The United States, along with the international community, supports full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, including the disarming of all militias and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces throughout Lebanon. The United States believes that a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Lebanon can make an important contribution to comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

One measure of U.S. concern and involvement has been a program of relief, rehabilitation, and recovery that from 1975 through 2005 totaled more than $400 million in aid to Lebanon. For relief, recovery, rebuilding, and security in the wake of the 2006 war, the U.S. government substantially stepped up this program, pledging well over $1 billion in additional assistance for the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years. This support reflects not only humanitarian concerns and historical ties but also the importance the United States attaches to sustainable development and the restoration of an independent, sovereign, unified Lebanon. Some of current funding is used to support the activities of U.S. and Lebanese private voluntary organizations engaged in rural and municipal development programs nationwide, improve the economic climate for global trade and investment, and enhance security and resettlement in south Lebanon. The U.S. also supports humanitarian demining and victims' assistance programs.

Economic, humanitarian, and educational assistance

Over the years, the United States also has assisted the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese American University (LAU) with budget support and student scholarships. Assistance also has been provided to the American Community School at Beirut (ACS) and the International College (IC).

In 1993, the U.S. resumed the International Military Education and Training program in Lebanon to help bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)—the country's only nonsectarian national institution—and reinforce the importance of civilian control of the military. Sales of excess defense articles (EDA) resumed in 1991 and have allowed the LAF to enhance both its transportation and communications capabilities, which were severely degraded during the civil war. Security assistance to both the LAF and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) increased significantly after the 2006 war, in order to support the democratically elected Government of Lebanon as it carries out the requirements of UNSCR 1701 and asserts its sovereignty over the whole of Lebanese territory.

On October 24, 2012, five days after the deadly car bombing in Beirut that killed Lebanese chief of intelligence Wissam Al-Hassan, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland announced that the American government will back the Lebanese political opposition coalition's call for a new cabinet free of Syrian influence as well as assist Lebanon in the investigation of the bombing.^{[citation needed]}

Diplomatic tensions and regional crises

In October 2023, unconfirmed information circulated that the U.S. would close its embassy in Beirut during the Gaza war. The information later turned out to be false, and the U.S. embassy in Beirut stated that the office “is open and operating normally”. The news came after Israel reported that Hezbollah had possibly infiltrated Israel from southern Lebanon. The U.S. warned Hezbollah in Lebanon to not get involved in the fighting between Hamas and Israel.^[14]

In June 2024, the Lebanese army reported that a gunman attacked the U.S. embassy in Beirut. The assailant, described as a Syrian national, was shot by soldiers and subsequently taken to a hospital. According to local media reports, a gunfight ensued for nearly half an hour near the U.S. diplomatic mission in a northern suburb of Beirut.^[15][16]

On June 22, 2025, following Operation Midnight Hammer, sources reported that The US state department has ordered the departure of family members and non-emergency US government personnel from Lebanon.^[17]

Relations with Hezbollah and sanctions

In early November 2018, the United States Treasury Department put four key members of Lebanon's Hezbollah on the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists program. They included Yusuf Hashim, Adnan Hussein Kawtharani, and Muhammad 'Abd-Al-Hadi Farhat and also Shibl Muhsin 'Ubayd Al-Zaydi who was a link between Hezbollah, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and their supporters in Iraq.^[18]

In June 2019, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on three senior Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, Wafiq Safa, Muhammad Hasan Ra'd, and Amin Sherri. These officials were added to the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions list and were accused of having a "malign agenda" to support the Iranian government.^[19]

In April 2026, Michel Issa, American ambassador to Lebanon, informed Lebanese officials they will have to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, both politically and military.^[20] On 21 May 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on nine Lebanese and Iranian individuals accused of enabling Hezbollah and obstructing its disarmament, including Hezbollah MPs Hassan Fadlallah, Hussein Hajj Hassan, and Ibrahim Mousawi, former minister Mohammad Fneish, and Iranian ambassador-designate to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani. The U.S. said the sanctions targeted individuals impeding Hezbollah's disarmament and reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese government's exclusive authority over security matters.^[21]