US general vows to join Lebanon in anti-terror fight

A senior U.S. military official reaffirmed Washington's commitment to joining Lebanon in its fight against terrorism, said a statement of the US embassy in Lebanon on Friday.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph L. Votel is on a visit to Lebanon as part of his multi-stop tour of the Middle East, according to the statement.

It is his first trip to the region since landing on the job of CENTCOM commander late last month.

During the visit, Votel met with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Jean Kahwagi and other key military leaders, and watched military exercises at the Hamat Air Base.

In the meetings, Votel "reaffirmed the Lebanese-American partnership in countering the threat of terrorism and reiterated the United States' confidence in the capabilities of the LAF in its role as the defender of Lebanon."

The general also renewed his country's "sustained commitment to providing the LAF with top-quality weapons, equipment, and training so that the Lebanese state can exercise its sovereign authority on the border and throughout the country."

Since 2004, Washington has provided over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in security assistance to the Lebanese army in terms of training and equipment.

Source: XINHUA