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Trump Just Made Surprise Move on This 'Beautiful Land'
Newser • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump has ordered the reopening of direct commercial flights between the US and Lebanon, reversing a 40-year-old FAA ban imposed after the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847 by Hezbollah.
- The decision was announced after Trump's meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, emphasizing convenience for American travelers and praising Lebanon without mentioning past security concerns.
- Key details such as the timeline for lifting the FAA restriction and whether US airlines will schedule flights to Beirut remain unclear, with experts noting the ongoing Iran conflict makes immediate routes unlikely.
- The move occurs amid US efforts to broker an Israeli withdrawal from parts of Lebanon and ongoing tensions with Hezbollah, which rejects US-supported peace plans; Trump expressed willingness to speak with Hezbollah if requested.
- The FAA plans to coordinate with carriers and agencies to ensure flight safety, but demand and security challenges may affect the implementation of these new air links.
