Lebanese Ministry of Information
President Michel Aoun said Tuesday that Lebanon was keenly engaged in the fight against terrorism, adding that the military operations currently implemented are serving their mission. Speaking during a meeting with United States Central Command’s Gen. Joseph Votel, Aoun said that the pre-emptive military operations the Lebanese Army has been carrying out against terrorist groups are being implemented with precision.
According to a statement from the President’s media office, Aoun told the U.S. delegation that “pursuing sleeper cells and monitoring their movements led to the arrest of a terrorist group days ago that was planning to launch attacks in inhibited areas … it turned out that a Yemeni was among its members.”
Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk Tuesday hailed the move as an example of collaborative work between Lebanese security agencies.
Aoun thanked Votel for the support the U.S. has been providing to the Lebanese Army.
According to the statement, Aoun told his guests that he hoped this assistance would continue, saying it helped to enable the Lebanese Army to fulfill its duty to preserve the country’s stability and security. Tuesday’s meeting was also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard.
Votel in turn expressed the eagerness of the American leadership to continue its military support of the Lebanese Army.
He told the president that his meetings in Beirut had focused on this issue. He added that the Army had demonstrated ability and efficiency in the operations it is carrying out against terrorists.
Lebanon is fighting terrorist groups that are holed up along the country’s northeastern border. Militants belonging to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham – formerly known as the Nusra Front – and Daesh (ISIS) hold positions on the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbeck, where they are pounded on a daily basis by the Army.
The Army has received millions of dollars’ worth of aid from the U.S. government over recent years, in order to boost its capabilities.
A statement from the U.S. Embassy said that Votel’s meetings would allow leaders to discuss important security issues.
“Gen. Votel will reaffirm the U.S. government’s commitment to the Lebanese-American partnership to counter the threat of terrorism and support the Lebanese Armed Forces in their capacity as the sole defender of Lebanon,” the press release said.
The CENTCOM commander also met Tuesday with Speaker Nabih Berri. The two discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region, according to Berri’s media office.
The general also met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a statement from the premier’s office announced.
During his flurry of appointments, Votel also met with Army head Gen. Joseph Aoun. The two discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region, according to a statement from the Army, “in addition to the Army’s needs in light of American aid and security and military developments.”
The U.S. general also met with Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and discussed further means of cooperations between Lebanon and the U.S.
Votel previously visited Beirut in February this year when he made a similar round of meetings to discuss ongoing relations between Lebanon and the U.S. with senior local officials.
