The chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, is on the second day of a high-level visit to Qatar, seeking support as the army moves to enforce a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year.
What happened: The trip began Wednesday with Haykal’s meeting at the Qatari Ministry of Defense with Lt. Gen. Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Mannai, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces. The two discussed ways to strengthen coordination and support for the Lebanese military “amid the delicate circumstances Lebanon is experiencing,” according to a statement from the Lebanese military.
Haykal later met Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who reiterated Doha’s commitment to backing Lebanon’s state institutions and “its continued solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people,” according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. The statement said talks covered “means of enhancing bilateral cooperation” and the latest political and security developments in Lebanon.
In a third meeting, Haykal met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani. According to a statement from the Lebanese military, discussions ranged from Lebanon’s security operations and its UN-mandated missions in the south to the implementation of the 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel.
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