Votel Visits Lebanon, Affirms Support for Lebanon Army

The Commander of United States Central Command General Joseph Votel met early this week with senior Lebanese officials during his visit to Lebanon, where he affirmed full support for the Lebanese army, the US embassy said in a statement released on Wednesday.

The statement said that Votel has met on Monday with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Joseph Aoun, as well as UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth H. Richard.

In his meetings, General Votel reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening the Lebanese-American partnership and its support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in their capacity as the sole, legitimate defender of Lebanon.