Top US general meets with Lebanese army chief amid Israel-Lebanon tensions

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) – The United States’ top military general met with the commander of Lebanon’s Armed Forces on Wednesday amid growing tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border.

"It was a pleasure to welcome Gen. Joseph Aoun, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, to the Pentagon. We discussed the current security situation in the Middle East as well as continued aims to de-escalate tensions," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown said on X.

The US and Lebanon share a "strong commitment" to pursuing durable and sustainable security and stability in the Middle East region, a Joint Staff spokesman said in a statement.

The Pentagon called Wednesday for a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

"We are seeing an increase in activity in the north, and we don't want things to escalate into a broader regional conflict," it said.

Tensions have flared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,200 people since last Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.