Aoun discusses military cooperation with senior US general

President Joseph Aoun met Thursday in Baabda with U.S. Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla, who was accompanied by a U.S. military delegation and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.

A Presidency statement said the talks tackled “the ongoing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the U.S. army and means to develop it in all fields.”

“Discussions also addressed the situation in the South, with Kurilla lauding what the Lebanese Army has so far achieved after its deployment in most southern towns and villages, pending the continuation of its deployment after the Israeli enemy forces withdraw from the Lebanese territory they are occupying,” the statement added.

It said the talks also tackled “President Aoun’s firm stances on the monopolization of arms and the domestic and foreign responses to them.”

“The president stressed the need for boosting U.S. support for the Lebanese Army, which alone reflects the will of the Lebanese to see their country free, sovereign and independent. The talks also addressed the situation in Syria and the development of relations between the two neighborly countries,” the statement added.