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Lebanon’s Army Commander Conducts Third Visit to US since His Appointment

US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard stands next to Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Hamat Air Base in Lebanon’s mountains on October 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim)
US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard stands next to Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Hamat Air Base in Lebanon’s mountains on October 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim)
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Lebanon’s Army Commander Conducts Third Visit to US since His Appointment

US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard stands next to Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Hamat Air Base in Lebanon’s mountains on October 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim)
US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard stands next to Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Hamat Air Base in Lebanon’s mountains on October 31, 2017. (REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim)

The visit of Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun to the United States reflected a US commitment to empower the Lebanese Army and develop its military capabilities, as a strategic partner of the US military in the region to fight terrorism.

Aoun began on Monday an official visit to the United States, during which he will meet with a number of military and civilian officials to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation between the armies of the two countries.

This is the third visit of the LAF commander to Washington since taking office in the spring of 2017. Aoun made his first visit after taking command of the army and the second when he was honored after the successful battle against terrorist organizations on the eastern border with Syria.

Well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the recent visit “confirmed that there was no change in the US policy towards Lebanon, contrary to claims that emerged over the past months that Washington was reviewing its support to the Lebanese army.”

“The US army regards the Lebanese military as a strategic partner in the region and in the efforts to fight terrorism and consolidate stability,” the sources said.

“Washington believes that investing in Lebanon’s security is made through the army because it represents the first line of defense against terrorism,” the sources added.

Military sources said the visit was aimed to review and evaluate the US assistance to Lebanon, determine its effectiveness and the need for future additional aid to the army.

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Report: Western Powers Warn Syria over Foreign Fighters in Army

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
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Report: Western Powers Warn Syria over Foreign Fighters in Army

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters in Damascus. (Reuters)

US, French and German envoys have warned Syria's new rulers that their appointment of foreign fighters to senior military posts is a security concern and bad for their image as they try to forge ties with foreign states, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The warning from the US, part of Western efforts to get Syria's new leaders to reconsider the move, was delivered in a meeting between US envoy Daniel Rubinstein and Syria's de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday at the presidential palace overlooking Damascus, a US official said.

"These appointments will not help them with their reputation in the US," the official said.

The foreign ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, also broached the issue of foreign fighters drafted into the army during their meeting with Sharaa on Jan. 3, an official aware of the talks said.

Reuters reported the appointments on Dec. 30. The envoys' comments on the appointments have not previously been reported.

Sharaa's armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led an offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 and has since installed a government and disbanded the Assad-era army. It is now making efforts to reconstitute the armed forces.

Late last year, it made nearly 50 appointments including at least six foreign fighters, among them Chinese and central Asian Uyghurs, a Turkish citizen, an Egyptian and a Jordanian, Reuters reported at the time.

Three were given the rank of brigadier-general and at least three others the rank of colonel, a Syrian military source said.

HTS and allied groups have hundreds of foreign fighters in their ranks who came to Syria during the country's 13-year civil war, many of them followers of hardline interpretations of Islam.

Foreign capitals generally view foreign fighters as a key security threat as they suspect that some may seek to carry out attacks in their home countries after gaining experience abroad.

Officials of the new Syrian administration have said foreign fighters made sacrifices to help overthrow Assad and would have a place in Syria, adding they could be granted citizenship.

The Syrian defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The German foreign ministry did not comment.

A State Department spokesperson said Washington is in a continuing dialogue with the interim authorities in Damascus.

"Discussions have been constructive and have covered a wide range of domestic and international issues," the spokesperson said, adding there has been "tangible progress on counter-terrorism priorities, including ISIS."

The US official and a Western source said that Damascus explained the appointments of foreign fighters by saying they could not simply be sent back home or abroad where they may face persecution, and it was better to keep them in Syria.

The US official said authorities also explained that these people had helped rid Syria of Assad and some had been in the country for more than 10 years and so were part of society.