Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received US General Michael Kurilla, the Commander of CENTCOM (US Central Command), on Thursday in Baabda. The meeting was held in the presence of US Ambassador Lisa A. Johnson and a delegation of senior military officials, underscoring America’s continued commitment to Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese presidency, the discussions focused on cooperation between the Lebanese and US armed forces at a time of heightened security tensions in the country.
General Kurilla also visited the Lebanese Ministry of Defense in Yarzeh, where he met with Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal. The two military leaders discussed the regional situation and ways to strengthen coordination between their respective forces.
The American visit comes on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Lebanese Army, celebrated on August 1. The occasion was also marked by a speech from President Aoun, in which he called for national unity around the military institution. He reaffirmed that the army must retain the exclusive right to bear arms and announced the recruitment of 4,500 new soldiers, along with a $1 billion support plan aimed at modernizing Lebanon’s military capabilities.
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