Trump directs end of 40-year US-Lebanon flight ban

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that he has directed his administration to lift a decades-old ban on direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon. The announcement came during a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, marking the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to Washington since 2009.

The flight suspension was first imposed in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan's administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847, during which militants diverted the plane to Beirut, held it for 17 days, and murdered a U.S. Navy diver. The ban has remained largely in place for over 40 years, with only limited exceptions for ticket sales through non-U.S. carriers. In a social media post, Trump stated he was directing his administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so Americans could more easily visit, calling it a "beautiful land."

The decision is seen as a significant confidence-building measure, reflecting a U.S. assessment of Lebanon's security institutions, particularly those safeguarding Beirut's international airport. Officials noted that any resumption would still require extensive...