Lebanese Army commander Rodolph Haykal (R) meets with Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, in Yarzeh on June 29, 2026. (Credit: Lebanese Army account on X).
BEIRUT — During his visit to Lebanon on Monday, the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Army commander Rudolph Haykal, with whom he discussed the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel signed on Friday.
Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Cooper discussed with Aoun the preparations related to the start of implementing the framework agreement, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Presidency on X.
Aoun's meeting with Cooper was also attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Keith Hennigan, and the head of the mechanism team, Joseph Clairfield.
Aoun thanked Cooper for the "attention shown by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Lebanon in order to achieve security and stability," stressing the "determination of the Lebanese state to extend its authority through its armed forces up to the southern international borders."
In Haykal's office in Yarzeh, the Army Commander discussed with Cooper the importance of "ensuring the success of the framework agreement" between Lebanon and Israel, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Army on X.
"Discussions focused on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, the importance of ensuring the success of the mechanism for implementing the security annex of the framework agreement, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in the future," reads a statement released by the Lebanese army.
According to the statement, Haykal expressed his gratitude for the U.S. support, stressing the need to continue cooperation between the two armies in a way that preserves Lebanon’s security and stability.
Later on Monday, the CENTCOM stated that during his ongoing trip to the Middle East, Cooper discussed with Aoun and Haykal the "path forward" in implementing the framework agreement. CENTCOM noted that prior to his visit to Lebanon, Cooper visited deployed U.S. troops in Israel, adding that "more than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the region, remaining vigilant and ready."
The framework agreement signed Friday provides, among other measures, for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two "pilot zones" in occupied southern Lebanon and their handover to the Lebanese Army. However, the agreement does not specify a timeline for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, and makes the withdrawal contingent to Hezbollah's disarmament.
