Elissa Slotkin, U.S. senator, welcomed by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baabda, on Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo X/Lebanese presidency)
Elissa Slotkin, a U.S. senator who had previously met with Lebanese Army Chief Rodolph Haykal in Washington, was in Beirut on Monday where she met with several Lebanese officials in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
Slotkin was received by President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. According to the National News Agency (NNA), Aoun outlined the steps taken by the Lebanese Army in the south of the Litani, stating that its full deployment up to the borders had been hindered by the continued Israeli occupation.
He said, "Lebanon is determined to deploy the army up to the international borders" and called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop its attacks, withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories, and release the Lebanese detainees still held in Israeli prisoners.
The talks also addressed relations with Syria, particularly regarding the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the need for their return to their country.
Slotkin was also welcomed by Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Haykal in Yarzeh, as well as by the director general of General Security, Hassan Choucair.
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