Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, welcomes Donald Trump’s decision as U.S. president to lift the 41-year ban on direct flights between the two countries, which he said shows Washington’s trust in Beirut’s steps to ensure civilian aviation safety.

Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon, welcomed the decision by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, to lift the 41-year restriction on direct flights between the two countries, calling it a sign of Washington’s trust in Beirut’s steps to ensure the safety of non-military aviation.

The move comes at a time when the United States is mediating negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on issues including the disarmament of Hezbollah.

The restriction on direct flights between the United States and Lebanon was imposed in 1985 by the Reagan administration, after the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

Trump first announced in July, concurrently with Aoun’s trip to Washington, that he would allow U.S. airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon.

He issued an official order to lift these restrictions on October 8, and the order was officially published on October 13.

However, lifting the restrictions does not mean the immediate start of direct flights, and the resumption of these flights depends on completing the implementing steps and obtaining the required approvals.