CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Charles Brown’s Visit to Lebanon

On September 29, 2017, Deputy Commander of United States Central Command Lieutenant General Charles Brown met with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Minister of Defense Yaacoub el-Sarraf, and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Joseph Aoun to reaffirm the U.S. government's commitment to the Lebanese-American partnership and support the Lebanese Armed Forces in their capacity as the sole defender of Lebanon.
On September 30, 2017, Deputy Commander of United States Central Command Lieutenant General Charles Brown met with the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Michael Beary at UNIFIL Headquarter in Naqoura to receive an update on the implementation of UNIFIL's vital mission that has helped de-escalate tensions in southern Lebanon.
By U.S. Embassy Beirut | 30 September, 2017 | Topics: Press Releases

Hezbollah (H.R. 3329 and H.R. 3342)

Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Various Measures

Press Release 09.28.17

Media Contact 202-225-5021 / Excerpts: 

Including Measures to Strength Hezbollah Sanctions and Africa Trade

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), passed nine measures, including two measures to further sanction Hezbollah (H.R. 3329 and H.R. 3342) and a measure to strengthen U.S.-Africa trade (H.R. 3445). 

On the measures to further sanction Hezbollah, Chairman Royce said:  "Hezbollah and Iran are reportedly introducing game-changing facilities into the region—independent factories that can produce rockets to be used against Israel and our allies.  We also have reports of missile factories opening up in Lebanon near mosques, homes, hospitals, and schools.  It is clear that Hezbollah intends to increase their exploitation of Lebanese civilians as defenseless human shields.  So today the Committee is taking action against Hezbollah and its sponsor Iran, by passing legislation that tightens the screws on Hezbollah's financial operations globally."

CENTCOM Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy Visits Lebanon

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEIRUT, LEBANON
September 9, 2017
On September 7, Major General George Smith, the CENTCOM Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy, met with General Joseph Aoun, the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Major General Smith offered his compliments to the LAF's recent military success. General Smith also expressed his condolences to General Aoun for the fallen Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) soldiers, captured by ISIS, in August 2014 and for the soldiers who were killed in the line of duty during the "Fajr al-Jouroud" operation. During the two-day visit to Lebanon, Major General Smith met with senior Lebanese military counterparts to discuss areas of cooperation to further develop LAF's capabilities as the sole defender of Lebanese territory and borders.