CENTCOM Commander Meets Lebanese Army Chief to Discuss Lebanon-Israel Agreement Implementation

The commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) visited Beirut to hold talks with the Lebanese Army chief regarding the recent agreement between Lebanon and Israel and its implementation mechanism.

According to reports, Brad Cooper met on Monday with General Rudolf Akl, commander of the Lebanese Army, to exchange views on the agreement brokered by the United States between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement was signed after four days of negotiations in Washington, facilitated by the US, and includes 11 general and preliminary articles.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Army said that both sides discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, the importance of ensuring the success of the security annex’s implementation mechanism, and ways to enhance future cooperation between the two countries. The Lebanese Army added that its commander expressed appreciation for the support of the United States and emphasized the continuation of military cooperation between Beirut and Washington.

Meanwhile, Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, criticized the conduct of the negotiations yesterday. He stated that the Lebanese government, during direct talks with Israel, crossed some “red lines,” including Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese occupied territories, cessation of hostilities, prisoner release, and the return of residents of southern Lebanon to their homes.

Berri also warned that separating Lebanon’s issue from broader regional agreements, including talks related to Iran and the US, or moving towards unilateral negotiations based on US and Israeli conditions, could prolong the occupation and create conditions for imposing new facts on the disputed areas, failing to guarantee Lebanon’s interests in practice.