A US Congressional delegation including Democrat senators Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Coons started a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday for talks with Lebanese officials on the political situation and persisting violence on the southern border between Hezbollah and Israel since October 8.
Accompanied by US Ambassador Lisa Johnson, the delegation had meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
Discussions focused mainly on the tense situation in southern Lebanon and the war in Gaza. It was also an occasion for Mikati to renew his call for continued American support to the Lebanese army to enable it to carry out its duties.
At the Foreign Ministry, Bou Habib declared, after the meeting, “We call on Israel to give peace a chance instead of continuing its warlike policy which is passed on from one generation to the next, increasing hatred and only engendering tragedy.”
Bou Habib also defended “UNRWA funding,” which he said is “in the interest of Lebanon, other host countries and the whole world, as it enables Palestinian refugees to dream of a better future thanks to its educational, health and humanitarian services.”
The American senators then met with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun at his home where they stayed for dinner, according to Al-Jadeed TV.
