Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal’s planned visit to the United States on Tuesday was cancelled at the last minute, after Washington notified Beirut that the program would not be maintained.
The cancellation of the visit was reportedly due to the Lebanese army's statement regarding the Israeli army's shooting of two UNIFIL soldiers, in which it only mentioned Israel's behavior while refusing to address Hezbollah's role in the region's instability.
US authorities informed General Haykal of the cancellation shortly before his scheduled departure. The program included meetings at the State Department and Congress, as well as a reception at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, for which invitations were withdrawn following the US decision.
Media reports indicate that the cancellation occurred amid a tense diplomatic climate, following a statement from the Lebanese army regarding events on the southern border and after members of Congress publicly criticized the army.
At this stage, no rescheduling has been announced. Neither the Lebanese army nor US authorities have provided any further details beyond the cancellation of the visit.
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