Issa hails Haykal's US visit as Lebanese officers meet US generals

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa “warmly welcomes” Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal’s official visit to the United States to continue his engagement with U.S. officials and the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Embassy said.

The army’s “ongoing work to disarm non-state actors and reinforce national sovereignty as Lebanon’s security guarantor is more important than ever,” the Embassy added, in a post on the X platform.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT) meanwhile hosted a bi-lateral security summit attended by senior leaders from the Lebanese Army at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

The Lebanese Army leaders “briefed U.S. military leadership on regional security matters, including operational updates and progress toward the army's disarmament plan,” a CENTCOM statement said.

The security summit also supported ongoing dialogue associated with the Cessation of Hostilities Supervisory Committee, commonly referred to as the Mechanism.

Established in November 2024, the Mechanism is a multinational supervisory committee responsible for monitoring, verifying, and providing direct deconfliction between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Clearfield, MARCENT commander and chairman of the Mechanism, led discussions focused on military cooperation and the importance of the Mechanism.

"As MARCENT continues to play a central role in the Mechanism, these discussions with our partners will remain a critical part of our efforts,” said Clearfield. “We are committed to durable peace and stability in the region,” he added.