President Joseph Aoun hosted a U.S. military delegation earlier on Monday for discussions focused on security and cooperation. The delegation was led by General Michael Kurilla, commander of the U.S. Central Command, and included U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson, General Jasper Jeffers—head of the Technical Committee for Ceasefire Monitoring—and several accompanying U.S. officers.

During the meeting, General Kurilla congratulated President Aoun on his election as Lebanon's president. The discussions centered on strengthening military cooperation between Lebanon and the United States, with a particular emphasis on ongoing U.S. support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Talks also addressed the situation in southern Lebanon and the progress of the Israeli withdrawal plan as outlined in the withdrawal program.

President Aoun expressed his gratitude to General Kurilla for the visit, highlighting the existing cooperation between the Lebanese and U.S. armies and the importance of further advancing this partnership.

The discussions were later joined by General Aroldo Lázaro, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); General Guillaume Ponchin, deputy head of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee; and Acting Army Commander Major General Hassan Audeh, who was accompanied by a delegation of Lebanese army officers.

The extended meeting focused on the situation in southern Lebanon, the measures being implemented to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and the collaboration between the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL, and the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee. These discussions underscored the shared commitment to ensuring stability and security in the region.