Trump administration calls off Lebanese army chief's visit after rebuke of Israeli attacks
Iran Press TV
Wednesday, 19 November 2025 9:22 AM
A planned visit by Army Chief Commander Rodolphe Haykal to Washington has been reportedly canceled over his recent statement condemning Israel for its incessant aggression on the Arab country's south.
According to reports by news stations Al Jadeed TV and MTV on Tuesday, the administration of US President Donald Trump abruptly canceled all of Haykal's scheduled meetings in Washington, and the Lebanese embassy also called off the official reception.
"As criticism mounted, all of Haykal's scheduled meetings with administration officials, congressional leaders, and defense counterparts were removed from the agenda," MTV said. "Notifications were promptly issued to the Lebanese Embassy, which in turn canceled the official reception planned for the commander to meet members of the Lebanese diaspora."
The move, as the reports said, came after Washington's objection to the Lebanese army's recent statement, which the Trump administration condemned for blaming heightened tensions along Lebanon's southern border on Israel while failing to criticize the popular resistance movement Hezbollah, whose disarmament has long been sought by the US.
"The Israeli enemy insists on violating Lebanese sovereignty, causing instability in Lebanon and hindering the completion of the Army's deployment in the south," the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) wrote in the statement posted on X.
"Army Command affirms that it is working in coordination with friendly countries to put an end to the continuous violations and breaches by the Israeli enemy, which require immediate action as they constitute a serious escalation."
The statement by the LAF, long considered a major recipient of US support, "angered" key members of Congress and sparked internal discussions about the future of US military assistance to Lebanon.
Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Joni Ernst issued strong public rebukes, arguing that the statement had undermined years of partnership and risked eroding bipartisan support for Lebanon's military.
"It is clear that the Lebanese Chief Head of Defense - because of a reference to Israel as the enemy and his weak, almost non-existent effort to disarm Hezbollah - is a giant setback for efforts to move Lebanon forward. This combination makes the Lebanese Armed Forces not a very good investment for America," Graham wrote on X.
Ernst also said she was "disappointed" by the recent LAF statement and said, "Israel has given Lebanon a real opportunity to free itself from...Hezbollah."
MTV cited sources as saying that the issue has been transferred directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is leading the "reassessment" of US policy toward Lebanon.
Going forward, US support for the Lebanese army will depend on its alignment with Washington's positions - particularly on border issues, Hezbollah's weapons, and any statements perceived as contradicting Washington's policy toward Israel, the sources added.
Under American pressure, the LAF has been tasked by the government in Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, but the army says the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon's south is obstructing the plan.
The reports coincided with the occupying regime's new deadly strikes on southern Lebanon as an Israeli drone hit Bint Jbeil on Tuesday. The Israeli occupation also struck days earlier the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces in southern Lebanon.
Israel has carried out hundreds of similar attacks in recent months, in violation of a ceasefire agreement signed last November.
Tel Aviv claims its strikes target people engaged in military activity or rebuilding Hezbollah positions, but local reports say those targeted often have no weapons and have not threatened Israel.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was required to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory but has kept forces stationed at five sites, violating UN Resolution 1701 and the terms of the agreement.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 4,000 people and injured nearly 17,000 since they began in October 2023.
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