Lebanon’s army chief in Washington as Hezbollah disarmament enters critical phase
Gen. Rodolphe Haykal is seeking US support for what is likely to be a cautious approach to expanding the geographic scope of the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
WASHINGTON — Lebanon’s top general, Rodolphe Haykal, arrived in the United States on Monday as Beirut seeks renewed backing for the Lebanese army ahead of a precarious new phase in its effort to disarm Hezbollah under a fragile ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The Lebanese army chief arrived at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on Monday to coordinate with top brass at US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) headquarters before he was set to head to Washington to sit down with key congressional lawmakers and Trump administration officials on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Haykal’s three-day visit is his first diplomatic trip to the United States since taking command in March 2025. It comes at perhaps the most delicate time for the under-equipped Lebanese Armed Forces since the US-mediated ceasefire was reached with Israel at the end of the Biden administration in November 2024.
The planned meetings in Washington are expected to be pivotal for Haykal as the Lebanese army prepares to present the cabinet with its plans to begin dismantling Hezbollah positions north of the Litani River in accordance with the November 2024 agreement.
