UK Middle East Minister Falconer upholds UK support to Lebanon

Hamish Falconer, the UK Minister for the Middle East, has ended a two-day visit to Lebanon, the British embassy said on Tuesday.

On his first official visit to the country, he met with Lebanese leaders, inaugurated a new base for the Lebanese Army in south Lebanon constructed through UK funding, and saw how UK aid funded programs are helping those impacted by the recent conflict. He was accompanied by British Ambassador Hamish Cowell.

In South Lebanon, he saw how a new Lebanese Army operating base, built with UK support, will enhance the army's operational resilience and address critical infrastructure needs.

"This is essential for supporting a permanent and sustainable LAF presence in the South. The UK has also built over 80 LAF operating bases along the Syrian border to strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and security," the embassy said in a statement.

Falconer also visited the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) center in Tebnine where he welcomed the partnership between the British Red Cross (BRC) and LRC to boost crisis preparedness and disaster response.

In Seddiqine, he visited a UNICEF Makani multi-service community center, which is supporting the most marginalized children with essential education and child protection services.

This is part of a broader package of UK aid to Lebanon this year totalling £33.5 million.

"This support helps to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable communities to meet their basic needs and access essential services such as education and gender-based violence prevention. This is done in collaboration with the Government of Lebanon, to help strengthen their national social protection systems," the embassy said.

Minister Falconer met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, where he reaffirmed "the UK’s commitment to support Lebanon’s reform efforts and long-term security and stability."

At the end of his visit, Falconer said: “Across the region, the UK is supporting efforts towards a lasting peace through tireless diplomacy, humanitarian support, and security cooperation."

“In Lebanon, I saw the devastating impact of conflict and how UK support is strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces through new Forward Operating Bases and training. Our humanitarian programming is helping communities to meet their basic needs and children return to learning,” he added.

British Ambassador Hamish Cowell said: “The UK is committed to working closely with Lebanon, to help deliver meaningful change that benefits the country and its people, and I was pleased to welcome Minister Falconer on his first official visit to Lebanon."

“In our meetings with Lebanon’s leadership, we reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast support to Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, reform efforts and the importance of parliamentary elections in 2026,” he added.