The Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, General Rodolph Haykal, receiving the American ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, in Yarzeh on July 31, 2026. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal received U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Friday for talks focused "on the latest developments in Lebanon and the situation in the region."
The American diplomat of Lebanese origin highlighted "the importance of the army’s ongoing efforts to preserve Lebanon’s stability." The two officials also discussed the importance of the army’s role within the framework agreement’s implementation mechanism, as well as issues related to the planned direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations set to take place in Rome on August 4.
The framework agreement signed in June between Lebanon and Israel, which was rejected by Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal, provides for the deployment of the Lebanese Army in pilot areas, where Lebanese soldiers will disarm Hezbollah, as the Israeli army withdraws for the areas. Rodolph Haykal has visited one of these areas, in Zawtar Gharbieh, twice in less than ten days.
The next round of negotiations is expected to address the continuation of the process, as Israel continues strikes in southern Lebanon with no retaliatory response from Hezbollah, aside from the launch of a suicide drone at an Israeli military vehicle earlier this week in the Ali Taher Heights area.
