Tuesday, October 26, 2010

U.S. Air Force General Visits LAF Counterparts

US Embassy, Press Releases, On October 25, 2010 Commander for the U.S. Air Forces, Central Command (CENTCOM) Lieutenant General Mike Hostage visited Lebanon as part of a visit to several countries in the region. In Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Hostage met with the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi. General Hostage expressed that the United States is fully committed to strengthening its partnership with the Government of Lebanon and the legitimate institutions of the state. General Hostage reconfirmed the commitment of the Obama administration to work with Congress to continue our support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, which play such a vital role in Lebanon. General Hostage also visited his counterparts in the Lebanese Air Force, including Commander in Chief of the LAF Air Force Brigadier General Ghassan Chahine. They then toured several LAF sites in Lebanon where cooperation between the United States Air Force and the LAF is ongoing.

The U.S. has provided over $720 million in support to the LAF since 2006 for equipment and training. The U.S. continues to offer training, engagements and exercises to the LAF in all fields, including special-forces training. The U.S. has committed to refurbishing and arming Lebanon’s UH-1 helicopter fleet and will install a state of the art UH-1 flight simulator. The United States is committed to helping the LAF develop its capabilities and will continue to support the government of Lebanon and the LAF as they continue their efforts to safeguard the stability, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon.