The French Army Chief of Staff, General Thierry Burkhard, met on Friday with Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun, and Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.

“Following the military honors ceremony, a discussion took place on the regional tensions facing Lebanon,” reads a joint statement issued by the three officials on Saturday.

During the meeting, they mutually “reaffirmed the importance of collective action for de-escalation along the border between Lebanon and Israel, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”

General Thierry Burkhard discussing with Lebanese Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun (on the right of the picture) and Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Photo taken from General Thierry Brukhard’s X account

According to the press release, Generals Burkhard and Aoun and Admiral Cavo Dragone underlined “the essential role of UNIFIL as an actor of peace, security, and protection of civilian populations in the region, in close collaboration with the Lebanese Army, sovereign over the whole territory.”

The three leaders also reiterated their support for the Lebanese Army, as it is a “patron of national stability.” “France and Italy’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty remains a priority,” reads the statement.

Commenting on the meeting, General Burkhard said he was honored to have received his Lebanese and Italian counterparts on Friday.

“We renew our collective efforts for regional stability through UNIFIL and support for the Lebanese armed forces, historic and valuable partnerships,” he wrote on his X account.