The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolphe Haykal, held a high-level bilateral strategic meeting with a visiting U.S. delegation to address Lebanon’s overall security situation, border challenges, and the ongoing regional crisis.
The pivotal meeting took place on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) at the LAF Military Headquarters in Yarzeh, located on the outskirts of Beirut. The U.S. delegation was led by Edward M. Gabriel, President of the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) and former U.S. Ambassador, along with key members of the organization’s board of directors.
The session featured comprehensive deliberations on the precarious political and security climate across Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Discussions focused heavily on the vital role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining stability in South Lebanon, despite severe economic and logistical constraints.
General Rodolphe Haykal emphasized during the meeting that despite continuous Israeli violations of ceasefires and framework agreements, the Lebanese Army remains steadfast in executing its national duties within its operational capabilities.
In response, ATFL President Edward Gabriel commended the LAF’s professionalism in upholding national stability and reaffirmed the delegation’s backing to ensure sustained logistical and institutional support for the armed forces.
