LAF commander seeks to enhance cooperation and support to the Lebanese army in Qatar

The Lebanese Armed Forces’ Commander General Rodolphe Haykal has headed to Qatar in a two-day visit with the aim of improving bilateral relations as well as receiving crucial support for the Lebanese military institution.

At the official invitation of the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, Lieutenant General (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mana’i, General Haykal met with key Qatari officials, including Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. His discussions centered around three main themes: the first being the latest developments in Lebanon and the region (in light of Israel’s attack on Qatar last month and the promising Trump Peace Deal to end the war in Gaza), the second being the missions undertaken by the LAF to preserve Lebanon’s security and stability across various Lebanese regions (including its missions on the country’s borders, its efforts to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement in November 2024, and its cooperation with UNIFIL in the south), and the third being the potential development of friendly cooperation and support to the Lebanese Army with all the critical circumstances that the country is currently facing. In this regard, Al Thani expressed Doha’s continued support for the Lebanese state institutions, LAF, and the “brotherly” Lebanese people.

That same day, on October 8, 2025, the Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun welcomed the Deputy Secretary-General for Peace, Security and Defense of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Charles Fries, in the Baabda Palace. During their meeting, President Aoun called for increased attention and support by the international community towards confronting Israeli violations (including ensuring its full withdrawal from Lebanese territories, cessation of daily operations and its release of the Lebanese captives held by the IDF), aiding and empowering the Lebanese official institutions (which encompasses the Lebanese Army), as well as participating in the monitoring of the upcoming parliamentary elections next year. This shows to prove the intense and serious lobbying that various Lebanese officials are undergoing to garner the required support for the country’s military and security institutions.

Amid the political, socio-economic and security concerns that have engulfed the devastated nation since 2019, the LAF proved to be the most efficient, credible and highly respected official institution. As the army is tasked with new and critical missions throughout the country, it is therefore in dire need of essential aid to equip it with all the means necessary to successfully fulfill its duties. From here, international assistance becomes crucial to maintain as well as enhance LAF’s readiness and capabilities.