Washington – A series of scheduled meetings between the Lebanese Army Commander, General Rudolph Heikel, and Pentagon officials have been abruptly canceled, DZWatch has learned. The cancellation comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Lebanon over recent statements made by the Lebanese Armed Forces.
According to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity, the Department of Defense informed General Heikel that all planned discussions at the Pentagon were off. The move reportedly stems from Washington’s dissatisfaction with a statement issued by the Lebanese Army on Sunday. The US administration views the statement as unfairly blaming Israel for regional instability while failing to adequately address the role of Hezbollah.
The canceled meetings were intended to focus on continued US military aid to Lebanon and enhanced security cooperation along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The United States has been a major supporter of the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing over $3 billion in assistance over the past two decades as part of a broader strategy to bolster state institutions.
The Lebanese Army’s recent statement asserted that “the Israeli enemy persists in its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, causing destabilization in Lebanon and hindering the complete deployment of the army in the south.” The statement also condemned the targeting of a UNIFIL patrol by Israeli forces.
DZWatch understands that the US administration is also expressing growing frustration with what it perceives as the Lebanese Army’s lack of progress in disarming non-state actors, particularly Hezbollah, and consolidating the state’s monopoly on the use of force.
The cancellation of these high-level meetings casts a shadow over the future of US-Lebanese security cooperation and raises questions about Washington’s long-term commitment to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces. Further complicating matters is the ongoing dispute over Israeli military presence in Lebanese territory, with the IDF maintaining several positions inside Lebanon and conducting frequent airstrikes targeting alleged Hezbollah operatives. The situation remains fluid, and DZWatch will continue to provide updates as they become available.
