Senior US Security Official Arrives in Beirut
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A high-ranking US security official Monday arrived in Beirut for talks with senior Lebanese officials.
A source at the airport told The Daily Star that Gen. Joseph Votel, the US Central Command chief, landed in Beirut on for official visit.
He kicked off his meetings by holding talks with President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace. He was accompanied by ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard.
The visit comes almost a week after US Republican Senator Bob Corker met with senior Lebanese officials before visiting the northeastern border town of Arsal.
Corker met separately with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Marada Movement head Sleiman Frangieh, Army Gen. Jean Kahwagi and Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.
A congressional source told The Daily Star that Corker’s visit came as part of his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with the aim of to assessing progress in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) and efforts to strengthen regional stability.
