Lebanese army chief General Rodolphe Haykal is gearing up for an official visit to Washington in early February, after the US cancelled meetings with him in November.
The visit comes at a sensitive time, preceding the Paris conference to supporting the Lebanese army in March.
Ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Haykal’s visit to Washington has been set for between February 3 and 5, saying the army’s needs, cooperation between the US and Lebanese militaries, and continued American support for the Lebanese army will be high on the agenda of the talks.
Military sources said that the visit’s postponement in November has not frozen contacts between the two sides. On the contrary, intense contacts have since been made to reschedule the visit, resulting in setting a new date next month.
The army’s plan to confiscate all unauthorized arms and extend state authority over all Lebanese territory will most likely top the agenda of the visit. This plan has drawn broad international attention.
A statement issued by the army command on January 8 regarding the achievement of the objectives of the first phase of the weapons-control plan will constitute a key component of Haykal’s briefing to US officials.
The army said in that statement that it had achieved the initial goal to clear non-state weaponry from the southern area near the Israeli border by the end of 2025.
It said it secured areas south of the Litani River, excluding positions still held by Israeli forces, though there was more work to be done clearing unexploded ordnance and tunnels.
Haykal’s briefing will most likely refer to the challenges hindering the full implementation of the plan, foremost among them ongoing Israeli attacks and the occupation of a number of sites inside Lebanese territory, in addition to the establishment of buffer zones that restrict freedom of movement, as well as the daily violations of the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024.
The army chief will also stress continued close cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and with the ceasefire monitoring committee known as the mechanism, which held its last meeting on January 7 at the military level in the absence of civilians.
Ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the mechanism will not hold meetings this month. “We are awaiting the return of the US general who is abroad, as well as the appointment of a civilian representative to replace US envoy Morgan Ortagus, who has been relieved of her duties,” they said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon continues its preparations for the Paris conference to support the army, scheduled for March 5.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told a recent security meeting that the army and security forces should prepare accurate reports on their needs and brief the conferees to secure the required assistance for their institutions.
