Report: U.S. Central Command Officers to Visit Beirut

A delegation from the U.S. Central Command is expected to visit Beirut soon for talks with top officials on military assistance to Lebanon, high-ranking diplomats said.

The diplomats, who were not identified, told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Friday that the delegation is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji and the officers in charge of the U.S.-Lebanese military cooperation office.

The officers have been following up the military assistance and training programs that the two countries have been engaged in, said the sources.

In February, the U.S. delivered $25 million in assistance to the Lebanese army.

It included 70 M198 howitzers and almost 26 million rounds of ammunition and artillery of various shapes and sizes, including heavy artillery.

According to the U.S. Embassy, Lebanon is now the 5th largest recipient in the world of U.S. military foreign assistance.

G.K.

D.A.