U.S. Military Delegation in Lebanon Next Week

A U.S. military delegation is expected to arrive in Lebanon next week to discuss with the Lebanese army the repercussions of the Syrian war on Lebanon and to weigh the developments on the Lebanese-Syrian border where the army is facing militants, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph L. Votel, is expected to make an “unusual” visit to Lebanon next week, well-informed sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

Votel will be "heading a delegation of U.S. senior generals in charge of maintaining cooperation between the Lebanese and US armies, aid programs and grants as awarded by needs identified by the Lebanese army command in accordance with the current five-year plan since 2013," they added.

The delegation will discuss the repercussions of Syria's war on Lebanon and the region.

The military delegation will also discuss the developments on the porous Lebanese-Syrian border where the Lebanese army faces armed terror groups.

Discussions will focus on "enhancing the army's armed capabilities as needed to qualify it to cope with the vast rugged areas on the border, and to confront terrorism which has spread out beyond Lebanon and the region, to reach the whole world," said the sources.