President Donald Trump just greenlit flights to a country his own government warns Americans to avoid. The president’s directive to end a 40-year ban on direct flights to Lebanon raises questions amid ongoing regional conflict.
Donald Trump’s direct-flight announcement to Lebanon clashes with an active Level 4 travel advisory
President Trump announced on July 21 that he would allow U.S. airlines to fly directly to Lebanon. The directive ends a ban the FAA imposed in 1985 after Hezbollah hijacked TWA Flight 847. That incident triggered a 17-day standoff that killed a U.S. Navy sailor.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. He wrote, “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.” His post did not reference the original reason for the ban.
The FAA responded that it “looks forward to working with airlines and our interagency partners to advance the president’s directive,” per The New York Times. Officials did not clarify when the administration would formally lift the restriction. It also remains unclear whether U.S. carriers would schedule flights to Beirut.
The decision arrives during an uncertain security landscape in the region. Lebanese and Israeli leaders continue negotiating an Israeli troop withdrawal under a U.S.-brokered framework. The State Department confirmed withdrawal operations began in three pilot zones on Monday. However, both sides acknowledged Israel resumed gunfire by Tuesday.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia functioning as a de facto government within Lebanon, has rejected the U.S.-backed peace process. That process would require the group’s disarmament. Meanwhile, U.S. peace efforts between Lebanon and Israel conflict with deteriorating conditions regarding Iran. Peace talks with Tehran have broken down, and regular bombardment has resumed.
Trump also stated he “would speak to Hezbollah” to help advance conflict resolution if Aoun requested it. He added, “I will speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn’t be speaking to and things work out.”
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
