Lebanese army

Why was Sharaa Invited to Washington, but not Aoun?

Until late 2024, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a U.S.-designated terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head for leading the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. By contrast, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) until his election in January 2025, was widely regarded as one of ...

Hezbollah Allegedly Strengthens Hold on Beirut Port Amid Disarmament Doubts

Despite the Lebanese cabinet’s move to impose a firm deadline for the disarmament of militias, developments on the ground point to a “lack of seriousness” in enforcing the decision against Hezbollah, a security source told This is Beirut on condition of anonymity, questioning whether the government’s commitment is backed by concrete ...

Egyptian PM Pledges Full Support to Lebanon

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday, reaffirming Egypt’s steadfast support for Lebanon and stressing the need for stability, sovereignty, and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In his remarks, Madbouly said the visit aimed to “convey Egypt’s full support to ...

Israel and Lebanon Hold Second Direct Talks in Naqoura

Following talks held Friday in Naqoura, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the meeting addressed ways to advance economic initiatives with Lebanon, alongside ongoing security discussions. In a statement, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the meeting aimed to continue the security dialogue, ensure the disarmament of ...

Paris to Host Conference Supporting LAF in February

Paris will host a conference in February in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), following a quadripartite meeting held in the French capital on Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed to This is Beirut. The venue of the conference has yet to be announced. The meeting brought together LAF Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, French ...

Decisive Paris Meeting: Can the Lebanese Army Deliver?

On Thursday in Paris, one of the most sensitive moments in Lebanon’s current diplomatic timeline will unfold. A closed-door meeting on the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) needs will bring together the army’s commander-in-chief, General Rodolph Haykal; US Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus; Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan; France’s special envoy ...

Israel Strikes Two Vehicles in Southern Lebanon, One in Rare Chouf Attack

An Israeli drone strike on Tuesday killed one Hezbollah member in Marjayoun after targeting a Rapid vehicle, and in a rare move, the IDF also struck a vehicle in Chouf’s Siblin–Jadra road, reportedly killing another Hezbollah member and injuring five others. The IDF declared on Wednesday that the Hezbollah operative killed in an ...

Clashes Between the Lebanese Army and Syrian General Security at Border

According to information reported by LBCI, clashes broke out between the Lebanese army and members of Syria’s General Security, lasting around 20 minutes in the Machrafa area between Hermel and Qaa on Sunday, as the army was attempting to cut off one of the smuggling routes in the region. Al-Jadeed also reported that the Lebanese army returned ...

No More Free Passes: U.S. Ties Security Aid to Lebanese Action

The U.S. Congress has sent a clear, stern message to Beirut that Washington’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is no longer a blank check. The latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), up for a vote in the House of Representatives, imposes new conditions and restrictions on U.S. aid to the Lebanese army, ...

Lebanon and Oman Reaffirm Strategic Partnership During Presidential Visit

Following a two-day official visit to the Sultanate of Oman, President Joseph Aoun and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq issued a joint statement underscoring the strength of relations between their countries and their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation. The leaders highlighted the historical ties and fraternal bonds between the peoples ...

Washington Weighs New Visit by Lebanese Army Chief

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, announced that discussions are underway for a new visit by the Lebanese army chief, Rodolphe Haykal, to Washington. The announcement follows his Monday meeting with Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. The army commander’s visit had previously been canceled on November 18 due to a statement issued by the ...

Lebanese Army Arrests Six after Attack on UN Patrol

The Lebanese army has arrested six people after gunmen attacked UN peacekeepers patrolling in the south of the country, the military said Saturday. The UN force, known as UNIFIL, had reported that six men riding on three mopeds opened fire on a patrol vehicle Thursday without hurting anyone. Saturday's statement said the army's intelligence ...